Carroll German Gymnastics Club, 1893

SEVERAL

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 6/4/2005 at 19:09:08

I translated the following article from Der Carroll Demokrat, a German-language newspaper published in Carroll, Iowa, between about 1874 and 1920. It was originally published on 17 February 1893. Any information in brackets or notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

For the first time in Carroll, the young Turnverein [Gymnastics Club] presented a gymnastics demonstration. The members had decorated the large room with flags and bunting, and above the stage was a fine-looking motto in ivy: Gut Heil! [Best of Luck] In order to put on a relatively good show and earn the goodwill of the public, the young club had undertaken a significant responsibility. For this reason, it invited, at its own expense, the gymnastics clubs from Holstein and Ida Grove, whereby the already large overhead for such a celebration was significantly increased. Many members may have been concerned about incurring a large deficit, but that was not to be the case. The music hall was filled early, and by 8:00 in the evening it was hardly possible to get a seat. At this point, we must remark proudly that the German public showed such a strong interest and was present in such large numbers. At 8:30, the presentation opened with a [human] pyramid down in the hall, and then the gymnastics on the parallel bars were performed. First, the Turnverein from Carroll performed some exercises, which were generally good and performed with precision, and despite the shortness of their exertions, they demonstrated great diligence. It would be an injustice to single out any one man because they all performed quite excellently, and in many respects, just as well as the out-of-town gymnasts. Especially noteworthy was the giant swing, which some out-of-town gymnasts performed, then the display of strength by the gymnastics instructor from Holstein, the staff [or baton] exercises, the balance beam, and the artistic presentation on the parallel bars. In short, almost every part of the production was carried out with precision and great agility and was honored by the public audience with frequent applause. One very small boy, who was known in the hall as “that little fellow,” especially aroused the merriment of the audience because he participated in almost every exercise. He was tossed up onto the horizontal bars by the older gymnasts, and in his gymnastic performances, he demonstrated a skillful dexterity. When forming the human pyramids, the boy always took the upper position, and he climbed with such certainty until he was on top that it was truly admirable. The finale consisted of a “living picture” [a group of gymnasts representing a subject] accompanied by Bengali fireworks. Throughout this pleasant evening, the local Turnverein, as well as the Turnvereins from Holstein and Ida Grove, earned the warmest thanks of the local public, and the young gymnasts can be certain that they will find enthusiastic support with a repeat performance, hopefully in the near future. The presentation ended at 10:00, and the happy little group of people stayed together dancing and enjoying a glass of beer until the early morning hours. To the gymnasts of Ida Grove, Holstein, and Carroll, we say a hearty, “Gut Heil!”

NOTES: Apparently, this was the first public performance of the Carroll Turnverein. This gymnastics club was started in Carroll in March of 1892. The first members were: Wm. Winnike, Ph. Zerwas, Wm. Krüger, F. P. Berger, Jos. Wiedermeier, Jr., H. S. Bruch, John Eltgroth, M. Pudenz, B. Brown, Jr., John Gruber, Chas. Fipp, Chas. Kanne, J. H. Lohmann, Jos. M. Wiederhold, A. Wiedermeier, and H. Fipp. These clubs are traditional in Germany, and many were founded in Iowa and throughout America by German immigrants.