Luther Turner

by Joe Leonard

        Luther Turner’s father, David H. Turner, moved to Gainesville in 1880 from Pilot Point, Texas, to manage the LaClede Hotel at Dixon and Broadway.  A year or so later he bought a frame residence at the corner of Jefferson and California streets, just east of the lot where St. Paul’s Episcopal Church would be built.  In 1884, after being urged by traveling salesmen to start a hotel, he added a kitchen and dining room and began operating as the Turner Cottage.  Next in line was adding five more rooms as the reputation of Turner Cottage spread for having clean rooms and great food.  In 1928, after over 38 years, the cottages were moved and a very modern six story, 100 rooms Turner Hotel was built on this site by the sons, Luther and Edgar, and operated by them and their families for many years.  In 1979, after a period of ownership by another group following the Turners, the hotel was purchased by the Gainesville Housing Authority and converted into a splendid public apartment entity.

At one time or another many different St. Paul members have been residents there, and others are still welcomed.

        It is not certain what year Luther Turner became a member of St. Paul’s.  His wife, Fay Painter Turner, born October 19, 1881, was baptized May 17, 1910,  and confirmed May 19, 1910.  Luther was confirmed on April 14, 1918.  They had two children who both became members: David Painter Turner, born December 24, 1908, baptized October 24, 1909, confirmed April 14, 1918, and William Clark Turner, born November 13, 1915, baptized May 6, 1916, and confirmed June 18, 1933.  David’s wife, Dorothy, was also a member of the church but we do not have any further information.

        Luther and Fay were both active members in the church.  Luther served on the Vestry and, in 1910, Fay served on the Vestry for a number of years.  The sons, David and William, while young served as acolytes, and later on many different committees.  William also planted and cultivated the red oak tree which now stands on the southeast corner of the church lot.  While the family devoted many hours to church work, they also spent time and money in promoting Gainesville and many civic projects.  Luther was elected to the city council and in 1920 was one of the charter members of the new Rotary club.  In 1917, with World War I airplanes becoming commonplace, Luther Turner, then chairman of the local Red Cross unit, decided that Gainesville should help out.  He contacted Army aviation officials in Fort Worth to offer and provide a much-needed alternate landing strip here to assist in pilot training.  Gainesville was just the right distance away for training planes to practice landings and takeoffs.  A large open field on South Weaver street was named Turner Field, and became the answer.  A shack was built for the Red Cross unit to offer the pilots and crews hot coffee and sandwiches on their brief stopovers in cross country flight.  As many as fifty planes a day for weeks and months used the Gainesville facility.  The Turner’s middle name could have been “Service.”  We welcome Luther Turner, Fay, David, Dorothy, and William to our family of St. Paul Legends.  This posting owes thanks to “The First 100 Years in Cooke County” by A. Morton Smith for its many historical references.

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