Turners are members of German-American gymnastic clubs called Turnvereine. "Turner" is the German word for Gymnast. More on the organization's history can be found on Wikipedia. American Turners have active groups in many cities. Visit the American Turners website.
The "Turners Summer Home" often referenced in this collection of Poplar Beach history is a building located on the property to the north of Poplar Beach that existed from about 1924 to 1957.
An article with photos of the building is on the St. Clair Shores Library website.
A Facebook "Memories of St. Clair Shores" group post adds to the local history with a story about Britz's, located in the Turner Summer Home to the north of Poplar Beach from 1939 to 1945.
From the Facebook group's post and comments: "Britz's-on-the-Lake (Opened 1939) 28404 Jefferson Ave (S of Martin Rd) Current site of the Walter F Bruce VFW Post #1146 and previous site of the Turner Summer Home Society (Turner Sommer Heim Gesellschaft) and Station #54 on the Shore Line Interurban Railway."
The post continues with: "The building served as the home of the Cpl. Walter F. Bruce VFW Post 1146 from about 1945 until its existing building was completed in 1957. The building was often the site of Jaycee-sponsored haunted houses each Halloween as previously discussed here within the group. The building has since been demolished. Britz-on-the-Lake was owned by John Jacob Britz and his wife, the former Caroline Herbold. Before purchasing the former Turner Summer Home facility in St. Clair Shores in 1939, John owned and operated a lunch room at 2382 E Jefferson Avenue near Chene Street in Detroit."
Also in the Facebook post is an image from a 1941 Free Press ad that reads: "Britz's on Beautiful Lake St. Clair on East Jefferson Avenue, 1/4 mile beyond 11 Mile Road. Formerly Turner Summer Home. DINE, DANCE, SWIM, rain or shine. Choice foods and liquors. Catering to banquets, weddings and parties. John Britz, Murray 9706 or Roseville 0532. 16 miles from City Hall. Tennis court, boating. Board by day or week."
Below: A photo of the 22837 Poplar Beach west facade, from a Falke 1944 photo. Note the building in the left background. This was first the Turners Summer Home, then Britz's until about 1945, then the Walter F. Bruce VFW Post.
Herman Schweim as Turner Member
Herman was apparently a member of the Turners association. His property sale to the Turners is documented and he is listed in a newspaper clipping (below) from the Detroit News of September 23, 1926 provided by Pat Ryan (Grandson of John P. Ryan who married Herman's daughter Mildred Schweim in 1915).
The headline is "Turners Lay Cornerstone." The article is about the impending construction of the new $400,000.00 Turner Hall headquarters on Jefferson between Crane and Fisher Avenues. The article states "...With Bodden on the platform were Dr. Tobias Sigel, Herman Schwein (sic), Ernst Mildner, Mrs. Charles Bodden..."
The building mentioned in the article was built at 8731 Jefferson (below in about 1929). It had two gymnasiums, two swimming pools, 10 bowling alleys, a restaurant and club rooms. Another exterior plus interior images are in Wayne State University's collection.
8731 East Jefferson became the site of the former UAW Dave Miller building, which put a new facade on the Turners building and extended the structure to the northeast. The building is vacant and still contains some of the original interior details.
Below: exterior and interior views from a real estate listing.
