Turners

from

Germany

make stop

in New Ulm

BY SARA SYVERSON

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- A researcher of New Ulm historical figures and the president of a Turner organization in Germany arrived here Monday.

They immediately connected with the German heritage of New Ulm at a dinner at Turner Hall.

The event featured Kurt Scheffler, the president of the Turngemeinde in Heilbronn, Germany, and Hans Muller, a researcher who has extensively studied the lives of Wilhelm Pfaender and Carl Pfaender, who played instrumental roles in founding New Ulm.

Wilhelm Pfaender is known as the co-founder of the Turnvereins in Ulm and Heilbronn, Germany; Cincinnati, Ohio; and New Ulm, Minn.

This is the first time Muller and Scheffler have visited New Ulm.

"We appreciate you inviting us," said Muller.

Muller wrote part of a book about Wilhelm Pfaender that was published by the Heilbronn City Archives.

"I was very fascinated by him (Pfaender)," said Muller, "He took chances. ... He left places -- Germany and Cincinnati. ... I got interested in him when I found out he was one of the founding members of the Turnvereins in Germany."

Muller said he was asked to help write the book on Pfaender because he was doing research on him.

In the 1950s, Muller lived in Minneapolis as an exchange student. He was encouraged to visit New Ulm.

Pfaender helped organize the first Turngemeinde in Heilbronn in 1845; the Cincinnati Turngemeinde in 1948; Newport, Ky. in 1852 and New Ulm Turnverein in 1856, according to Annette Hoffmann's essay: Wilhelm Pfaender, a transatlantic turner or the "Grand Old Man of New Ulm."

The Heilbronn Turnverein has approximately 3,000 members, of which approximately 1,200 are between the ages of 3 and 18.

The Turnverein in Heilbronn offers gymnastics, volleyball, badminton, fighting, German handball, soccer, canoeing and track and field. There are 18 different departments within the Turnverein, Scheffler said.

There are currently two Turnvereins that are considering merging, and it has been hard work, according to Scheffler.

The importance for the Turnvereins in Germany is three-fold., Muller and Scheffler said.

"The activities there help youngsters find their place in society," said Muller.

The Turnvereins also help to integrate foreigners into their society, they said. They have active Turnverein members who are from Turkey, Italy and other countries.

The Turnverein is also important for health reasons, the men said.

"It's a very interesting time for me and my wife," said Kurt Scheffler, "We enjoy it so much. There's so much green and trees around the houses. The streets and the houses are so clean -- it's not the same in Germany or in other places in the States."

The Scheffler and the Muller and their wives began their journey in San Francisco, Calif. on June 8. They have visited Denver, Colo., Minneapolis, and Austin. They plan to travel to Maryland and New York state before they return to Germany.