Ann Marie (Kopacz) Meile and her family actually lived in the building from 1959 to 1963 and later next door.
Joan Kelley, the LHC Oral Historian writes:The workmanship in that building was magnificent. Fortunately we have Ann Marie Meile's oral history. Her parents ran the bar, and at one point the growing family lived in the building. The children even put the baby on the dumbwaiter at one point! Ann Marie's mother lives next door now.
In her oral history Ann Marie describes the interior and the events that occurred there. (The oral history is about a 1 hour long mp3. You can download it to your PC or mp3 player, usually by right-clicking on the link and selecting 'save target as...". Your browser may be setup so it streams to it before it has downloaded just by clicking on the link, but you'll have more control over playback, pausing, etc. if you download to your PC and then play the file. It's a 13MB file, so it could take a while to download.)
The Eagle-Tribune has recently published a story by Mark Vogler, who interviews Ann Marie Meile and her mother, Marilyn Kopacz. They talk about the Turn Hall's impact on the life of their family.
From Anne Marie ( Kopacz) Meile
Thank you for including this link on your web site. I hope you will get even more photos & memories from former Turners for your archives. The pictures you posted are great. Some I had never seen before, but I do recognize people in others. I spotted my mother, Marilyn Schneider Kopacz, my sister, Jacquie Kopacz Chamberlain, my grandfather, Herman Schneider - all in gymnastic pics. I believe I also saw a former gym instructor, "Chip" Scionti on the parallel bars. He was also in gym class with my Mom. Harry Hall is in the Board of Directors pics and a number of other photos too. So many of the indoor pictures show the building as it was when we lived there. All that was gone way before the fire. I am so glad you have the pictures to share with us all.
May 21, 2008
Dear Barbara and Pat,
I found a few of our family pictures from the Turn Hall.
1. AnnMarie & Jacquie playing on parallel bars at Mom's gym class-circa 1954
2. AnnMarie, Jacquie, Catherine, Ramona - circa 1959
3. Jacquie & Ramona at flagpole in front yard - June 1960
4. All members of the Kopacz family who lived in Turn Hall - Taken at front stairs
Raymond, Andrew, Marilyn, AnnMarie, Jacqueline, Ramona, Catherine - May 1962
Do you know how long you will keep the Turn Verein memorabilia on exhibit? I would like to bring my Mom in when you break it down so she can look through the books. I believe she would be in some of the pictures in them and she could ID some others.
Do you know when Mr. Alfred Kayworth plans to come in to visit? My Mom knew him & was in gym at the same time he was. We would like to try to stop in when he is there to say hello if possible.
Sorry I haven't found more pictures, but the family one is really good. Great job on the web site and exhibit. Hope you are all well. I am still downsizing, but hope to stop in again soon.
Sincerely,
AnnMarie