Heiser, Lackner among hundreds attending 1875 Turner Society ball

Hannibal’s German Turner Society hosted a masquerade ball in observance of Mardi Gras in February 1875. Among the participants were Miss Lena Lackner, who portrayed “Queen of the Woods,” and Louis Heiser, “Don Carlos.” The two, great-great grandparents of Hannibal’s Bobby Heiser, were united in marriage the following year.

The Hannibal Clipper of Feb. 17, 1875 reported that some five or six hundred people were present, with music provided by Prof. Kuehn’s string band of Quincy, Ill.

Thanks to Bobby Heiser for sharing this priceless photo