Staff photo by Fritz Busch Richard Runck’s sisters, Jessica Lamkin (left) of Metamora, Il. and Amy Runck of Winona are pictured behind a memorial rock unveiled in Turner Hall Park Saturday.

NEW ULM — The history of former Turner Hall manager Richard Pfaender Runck and Turner Hall itself were celebrated a number of ways at Turner Hall’s Stiftungfest (founding celebration) Saturday.

American Turners National Historian Dan Hoisington spoke in Turner Hall Park Saturday where a memorial rock was dedicated for Runck, who managed Turner Hall form 1978 to 2006.

“It’s a real honor to be here today to honor Richard Runck,” said Hoisington. “The poetry of history for me is to stand on this spot of land and realize what has happened here. How in 1858, you might have seen Wilhelm Pfaender, Julius Berndt and Jacob Nix walking the grounds here planning the first Turner Hall built on this site.”

“In 1862 on this spot of land, you may have seen German settlers and Dakota Indians fighting over this very land, about their future hopes and dreams,” added Hoisington. “You may have been here for Turnfest and seen people doing gymnastics, fencing and mass drills. You might have been here and visited the first library and fire department in town, all on this spot of land.”

Hoisington mentioned people voicing concern in the park about World War I and sending men to Germany to fight their brothers and cousins. He talked of the 1950s when New Ulm and the Turners brought German representatives here, which opened the door for bonds between the Germans who had been our bitter enemy, to be part of the Cold War and how it was successfully concluded.

“Those voices are all around us, but there is only one monument on this ground recognizing a person, Richard Pfaender Runck,” Hoisington said.

“Why? Because Richard was beloved. After he passed away, people gathered here and told us we had to recognize the service Richard did here,” he added. “We picked out a tree because he had deep roots. He’s a descendant of Wilhelm Pfaender. He loved history, doing his own research. He worked at the Brown County Historical Society.”

Hoisington said Runck was a rock for the Turners and Turner Hall.

“Richard would have been laughing at us in his own way, wondering why we were standing out here in the cold. Then he’d say, I have to go take care of the furnace. There was always something he had to take care of,” Hoisington said. “Richard said there is no other organization like the Turners. It’s success is due to the people of New Ulm who kept it going. Credit it to plain, hard dedication. And that’s what Richard would want to be remembered for — plain, hard dedication.”

Runck’s wife Barbara said she was “sort of spellbound” after the rock dedication.

“I didn’t expect anything in his name. I think it’s delightful,” Barbara said.

“Rich was always running to get something because some parties were so big, they ran out of something,” said Dr. Ann Vogel. “He could produce magic in his little office. He was a very dear friend to all Turner Hall patrons. His wife and five girls helped support him so he could do the work he did. He’s a true historical treasure. He was the link that kept Turner Hall going.”

Rich’s younger brother Willis said Rich was the one looked up to for direction.

“He raised a couple hundred turkeys. One time they flew across the river. Somehow, we retrieved them. I don’t remember how,” Willis said.

After a social and meal, Dr. Dan Groebner presented the history of the Turner Hall Theater.

“Congratulations to Turner Hall. You’re 166 years and eight days old,” Groebner said. “Theaters depended on newspapers to get the word out about productions.

“Theater was an educational institution. There was no mass entertainment back then,” Groebner said.

He said most early plays on the Turner Hall stage were written in Germany but the quality of spoken New Ulm German was a bit better due to German theater.

Groebner said the original Turner Hall burned down in the 1862 U.S.-Dakota War Battle of New Ulm. The second Turner Hall was dedicated in 1866. A theater addition was added on the south side of the building in 1873.

Local talent performed on the Turner Hall Theater stage until 1879 when actors came to New Ulm from Cincinatti, New York City, Chicago, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, New Orleans and as far away as Germany.

“The golden age of theater in New Ulm was from 1892 to 1910,” Groebner said. “The Doctor of Alcantara” musical was performed in 1889. Dr. Paracelsus was played by Fred W. Johnson of New Ulm.

A new theater with a raised stage and electric lights was built in 1901. Fred W. Johnson managed the Turner Hall Theater.

In 1943, “Arsenic & Old Lace” was performed. Cast members included Donald Dannheim of New Ulm, who also operated a dairy and ice cream store in New Ulm.

U.S. Senator Hubert Humphrey gave a speech at Turner Hall in early January 1952. Later that night, a fire destroyed the theater and Turner Hall complex. A full court gym and dining room were built in 1954.

Turner Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.