Quote from BoiCGH-Kate on August 23, 2019, 3:16 pm

The Turners were a world-wide connection of Germans organized by gymnasts in Berlin in 1811. Their mission was

“To promote the virtue of self-improvement and national progress through manly exercise.”

-Todd Shallat

The word Turnverein itself means athletic club, especially of gymnasts.

The building at 6th and Main used to house a 400 seat ground floor, a 200 seat balcony, the city’s best billiards room, and boasted a full gym—with indoor showers. They even included a ladies parlor.

At the laying of their Cornerstone in 1906, the Turners present sang “Die Wacht am hine,” meaning to “stand guard at the Rhine,” a tribute to where they came from.  It was a place for gathering and embracing a heritage, and being able to celebrate that with people who came from the same homeland. Unfortunately, around the time of World War I, some semi-local vigilantes terrorized the German population not only in Boise, but its surrounding areas. Suspicion of all things German caused many to hide, leave, or sell property–including having to abandoned the Turnverein.

After it was sold in 1916, it became a 7th Day Adventist Church, a WWII Air Force office, a Churchill’s Restaurant, a strip club, and a slew of bars.

For more information on this and other historic Boise buildings, along with before and after photos, check out the site!

Behind Boise

And since this is a Boise City Ghost Hunters blog… There has been an apparition seen in this building for many years.  According to witnesses, she is a young woman, about mid to late 20s, with short brown hair.  She is in period clothing; something a young woman would have worn to a party during the era before the building was sold; these appear to be around 1920s clothing.  She was at a party with the ladies social club located at the Turnverein building, and that evening she died in the elevator shaft.  No one knows how.

However, she has been known to pop up in people’s photos, still wearing her dress, just joining the party.  She is not anyone to be afraid of; but look in your photos for an extra body at the party!  Who knows…you may get lucky.