In 1884 Long Island City Turnverein became incorporated, - hence Long Island City Turnverein, Inc.

More gym exhibitions and dances were held. In 1886 a benefit concert was held to again raise funds for the Free German Language School.

During that time, the programs indicate that the society fostered a drama section (probably in conjunction with the school). Guests attending various functions sponsored by Long Island City Turnverein were treated to gym exhibitions as well as theatrical skits.

Most Turner societies and other German clubs sported banners. It was the desire of Long Island City Turnverein to also have a banner, which could be brought to parades and competitions. On July 28, 1888, Long Island City Turnverein was joined by Gesang Verein Frohsinn to celebrate the dedication of its Turnerbanner (the very same Turner banner which recently accompanied us to South Bend, Indiana where it received an additional ribbon!).

Throughout those early years the society supported Turnerism and promoted the good and welfare of not only its members, but also that of its Long Island City neighbors.

Aside from programs and flyers we retained, indicating that regular gym exhibitions and dances took place, we don't have much information.

In 1922 the society, together with their associate, Gesang Verein Frohsinn, held a gymnastic exhibition and benefit concert to aid destitute countrymen in Germany and Austria. It was during this year that the singing society became a part of the Turnverein, being known as the Singing Section G.V. Frohsinn.

Long Island City Turnverein held classes at the hall located at 38th Street and 31st Avenue. With expanding classes and a strong program, it became a goal of the membership to build its own clubhouse. Through the untiring efforts of several outstanding members, this goal was achieved. The new Turn Hall at 44^th Street and Broadway in Long Island City was built became operational on January 7, 1928.

In 1939 the Turn Hall suffered severe flood damage. Frohsinn and the Turner section arranged for a Benefit Entertainment evening to raise funds for badly needed repairs. The Turners who participated consisted of a group of gymnasts who had traveled to and returned from Breslau to give a gymnastics exhibition; they were given a rousing ovation for their performances.

This period of time was difficult for our Turner section. World War II had made it difficult to continue gymnastic classes. In December of 1940 Adam Bayer (one of the dynamic Turners who spearheaded the effort to build the new Turn Hall) passed away. He guided the society during the construction of the Turn Hall and during the refinancing period in the 1930's. With Adam Bayer's demise the gymnastics section ceased to operate and the management of the Turn Hall became the responsibility of G.V. Frohsinn.

Although the gymnastic section lay dormant, it was not forgotten. In 1952, Turner George Hirsch (who was an officer of G.V. Frohsinn) and Turner H. Kempf reactivated the Turning section with Turner Kempf becoming its Turnlehrer.

Participation in the gymnastics class grew and a new instructor was hired in 1955: Turner Eugene E. Keller. With his able instruction, L.I.C. Turner members again participated in competitions and held yearly gymnastics exhibitions. In 1957 the Long Island City Turnverein, Inc. became affiliated with the American Turners (a national organization to which most Turner Societies belong).

The Turn Hall needed to be modernized and an extensive alteration program began in 1959, Although the gymnastic section was functioning, the primary force of the society at this time was still Gesang Verein Frohsinn and this section oversaw the work of the modernization of the Turn Hall which culminated in 1964.

L.I. City Turnverein continued its gymnastics classes, running exhibitions and dances and competing in New York District competitions. The Turners were slowly gaining in membership and began to influence how the Society should be run. In 1968 a "Turner" President was elected: Herbert Mildt. Although he was a member of both Gesang Verein Frohsinn and the Turner Section, this new young President took over at the time that the singing section was ready to release custody of the society back to the Turner section.

This was a time of change. Instructor Eugene Keller received a request from Mount Vernon Turnverein to teach its classes and a new instructor had to be found by Long Island City Turnverein. Holger Asmus, a member of New York Turn Verein, an experienced gymnast himself, was hired. With him came his wife Annette who (amongst others) led the ladies’ calisthenics class, and worked with the more advanced kids to build up a strong gymnastics team for Long Island City Turnverein. With their youth and vitality, Long Island City Turnverein soon became a strong contender in District, Regional and National Turner competitions.

The 70's started off wonderfully - showers were installed in the dressing rooms (A wonderful feeling to be able to take a shower after volleyball or Gymnastics) and our tenant renovated the ballroom (gym). In 1972 our Society sent a team to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to participate in the National Turnfest. This was an exciting event for our members.

Although we had a good start, things got a bit grim in the mid-70's. Gesang Verein Frohsinn disbanded due to lack of membership. There were problems with collecting rent from the tenant, the neighborhood was changing drastically and our membership dropped to about 45. Without steady rent and a small membership paying very low dues, we were not able to pay real estate taxes or maintain the building. In addition, one of our tenant's former customers suffered a heart attack in our stairwell and our tenant (and us) were sued by the customer's family. With heavy hearts our board made the decision to sell the building. It was a difficult time for all.

Around that time, and for various reasons, our sister societies (Mount Vernon and New York Turn Verein) were planning to sell their buildings as well. With the proceeds of the sales they would build a new Turner building in Throggs Neck, New York. The idea was to merge NYTV, Mt. Vernon and Long Island City Turnverein into one strong society. It seemed like a good idea and we formed a "Merger Committee". But, there was that lawsuit against us and with a jury trial the outcome could not be predicted. So that the funds of the "merging societies" would not be put in jeopardy, LIT decided not to merge at that time. 

Our building was eventually bought by a Greek organization and we proceeded to explore various locations to hold our activities. We took our funds and invested them. From the interest, which accrued, we were able to rent various facilities, hire instructors, etc.

During the late seventies and eighties we moved our activities around quite a bit.  We rented and started teaching gymnastics at Bayside High School (where we are still located) but our volleyball and aerobics classes found themselves in many other locations.

Our ladies did aerobics at the Whitestone Jewish Center as well as in a Methodist Church in Bayside. It was a nice hall but very cold and the floor was concrete, which caused us some discomfort. Aerobics classes were also held at the Plattdeutsche Park Restaurant. Since it was part of a restaurant, the ladles enjoyed some "Gemuetlichkeit" at the bar afterwards.

It was during this period, when we spent so much of our time in Nassau County on long Island that we changed our name to the Long Island Turners, Inc.

Since our activities were spread out all over Queens, NY and Nassau County one segment of our society rarely knew what the others were doing. At the suggestion of Herbert Mildt, Terry Westing, began a "Newsletter" which kept us in touch with one another. We have been keeping that newsletter going for these many years thanks to dedicated editors like Terry, Gisela Mildt, Gail Goetz and George Zink.

We needed to increase our membership and we looked into various ways of doing so. Dolores Decarlo, (who now lives in California), started a bowling section. Initially, it was just another activity for the "regulars" but it didn't take long before we took in a dozen new members or so. At the present time our bowlers represent the largest segment of our organization. We continue to seek new members by offering activities in which they would want to participate, such as table tennis, basketball, paddleball and (lately) swimming.

Through these years we tried to keep up with most of our traditional activities - Picnics at Squantz Pond, Connecticut, Jones Beach State Park (or similar location), our Annual Dinner Dance and our International Night Christmas Party. Eventually, the Picnic at Squantz Pond became too expensive (and the park not so nice) and our members stopped coming to the fall picnic at the beach. Many of our members who owned larger homes opened them to our membership for our International Night Christmas get-together (where everyone brought a traditional dish from their homeland). But most of our members have small homes and/or apartments and are not able to host the event (a home would need to be able to put up more than thirty to fifty guests). During the time Evelyn Mesagno worked for the Episcopalian Church in Garden City, she arranged for us to use one of their lovely buildings with excellent kitchen facilities. We were very sorry when we had to give that up. This charming and pleasant tradition has now been discontinued. We have, however, continued to bring a group of Long Island Turners to march in the Steuben Day Parade each September.

Although we were able to run the activities - it was not a very satisfactory situation. Aerobics people here, volleyball people there, bowlers somewhere else. When we attended our meetings or dinner dances, no one knew one another. Bob Timmerman, one of our members, put us in touch with the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston, NY. This facility has a nice gym (for basketball, volleyball and aerobics); it has a paddleball court, a weight room, a sauna and a swimming pool. This was a super opportunity and the Long Island Turners bit the bullet (because this was going to be an expensive facility) - and rented. It has turned out to be a satisfactory situation for our club and we hope to be there for many years.

In the interim our society has attended many National Festivals (or Turnfests as we like to say), Bowling Nationals, participated in Regional and all District events and even traveled to Germany to participate in its "Turnfests".

We have from time to time discussed merging with ATNY, but at the present we are doing well. Our membership has at least doubled since we sold our building, and we have an active society. 

As was said earlier, our gymnastics program has stayed put in Bayside High School. We have held classes every Tuesday from October through May. Our children have always and still receive good basic gymnastics background training thanks to Turners such as Annette Asmus, Holger Asmus, Paul Bastian, Mary Jo Bursig, Dolores Decarlo, Genevieve Eichert, Diane Eichert, Gene Keller, Susanne Mildt Keller, Rita Launer, Gisela Mildt, Inge Trampler, Marion Oppelt (and many others) who have put in lots of time to help out with these classes over the years. Our kids enjoy a Christmas Party, are encouraged to enter our District gymnastics and cultural competition and participate in an exhibition to which parents and guests are invited. It has always and continues to be a well-rounded program.

Our volleyball teams got started through the efforts of Al (Moose) Oppelt (LIT) and Bob Widmer of Mt. Vernon Turners. After Moose passed away, Inge Trampler continued to coach and captain our team through many tournaments. In fact, she was co-Captain of our winning team in St. Louis and our District team last November. That is dedication. Of course there were others who helped – Bob and Terry Westing, Linda Bastian and Mary Jo Bursig to name a few.

Our bowling section has also had many class leaders - Dolores Decarlo, Barbara Riggers, Gail Goetz, Joanne Bruno and Joann Lynch.

Since the sale of our building, we have been fortunate to have strong leaders (Presidents) who have guided us well (Herbert Mildt, Gerd Trampler, Holger Asmus, Steven Keller, Eugene Keller, Inge Trampler, Anthony Mesagno, Mary Jo Bursig and James Goetz). We are in great debt to them. Let us hope that we continue to get such leadership in the future.

Marion Oppelt,

Vice President

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