Lawrence Building Tied to German-American History
Associtated Press - Mon 08:36 PM 10/01/2012
The purchase of a Lawrence's oldest standing community building is raising interest in the city's German-American history.
The purchase of a Lawrence's oldest standing community building is raising interest in the city's German-American history.
Last week, the Lawrence Preservation Alliance bought the 1869 Turnhalle building.
Lawrence historian Dennis Domer says at least 800 German-speaking residents lived in Lawrence in 1895, when the city had less than 10,000 residents. They had their own newspaper and strong influence in the city for years.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports German-Americans began to retreat from their heritage after the start of World War I because of strong anti-German feelings in the country. The community center stopped taking members and eventually the building was sold.
The preservation alliance hopes to restore the exterior and ensure the stability of the structure, and then sell it for a commercial venture.
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