Palma Moratz  (1872-1911)

            Palma Moratz was born on April 6, 1879 in Bloomington, IL to German-born parents, Hermann and Emilie Eisner Moratz. Her father, Hermann, immigrated to the United States in 1867 and her mother, Emilie, followed in 1869 with their son, Paul. It is not known exactly why the Moratz family left Germany, but perhaps they were escaping government tyranny or seeking better economic conditions. It is known, however, that Hermann served in the 1866 war against Austria only a few years before immigrating, so perhaps that event influenced his decision to migrate. In Bloomington, he worked as a carpenter in a shop across the street from the family home, located at 1106 Main Street.

            Like many other German immigrants, Palma and her family remained true to their German roots in nearly all aspects of life. By 1870, Bloomington’s population was 13% German at that time, and German society presented a diverse array of institutions, including Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish churches, German language schools, a German language newspaper (The Bloomington Journal), and a variety of German social clubs. They probably spoke German quite regularly at home and in public.

            It is not known for sure exactly which German social club the Moratz family belonged to, but there is a good chance that it was the Turnverein. The Turnvereien (German for “gymnastics society”) was originally created in Germany to promote physical fitness; however, American chapters such as the one in Bloomington,

(established in 1855), focused on celebrating German culture and giving local Germans (and members of German descent), the chance to socialize. Palma and her six brothers, (Paul, Richard, Mar, Theodor, Clemens, and Arthur) spent many weekends at Turner picnics and parties, which were open to all members of the family, including women and children.

            Like many other Germans who lived in Bloomington, Palma seemed to be very active in clubs and organizations. Records indicate she was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star chapter #50, a member of the Judea White Shrine #10, and a member of the First Baptist Church in Bloomington.

            October 6, 1891 was a big day for Palma. She was chosen to portray Miss Germania, opposite Miss Columbia (portrayed by Miss Riebsane, daughter of a Turnverein official) at Bloomington’s German Day festival. On German Day, all McLean County Germans separated from their clubs and lodges to unite in one giant festival. This festival celebrated the founding of the first German settlement in America at Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1863 and German contributions to America. Dressed in traditional German clothes and bearing a German flag, Palma stood on the viewing podium during the parade and shook hands with Miss Columbia, who bore an American flag, to symbolize the friendship and community between the old country and the new country. This celebration in Bloomington would become an annual event.

            Palma received her childhood education in Bloomington and studied Elocution at the Emerson School of Oratory and Elocution (today known as Emerson College). In 1905, she was teaching elocution at the Marie Litta Conservatory. Students paid $3.00 to be part of her class for 60 minutes a week and $10.00 for a one-hour weekly private lesson in the arts of public speaking and reading out loud. Today, those same lessons would cost $70.00 for 60 minutes a week and $236.00 for a one-hour weekly private lesson. However, in 1909, she is listed in the city directory  as a saleslady at the dry goods and notions store of Charles J. Northrup. It is not known if she continued to teach at the Maria Litta Conservatory during this time.

            In the spring of 1911, Palma is recorded to have suffered a nervous breakdown. For the last seven weeks of her life, her condition continued to deteriorate while she was hospitalized at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bloomington. On May 12, 1911, she succumbed to her illness, which was listed as pneumonia in cemetery records. Her funeral was held at the home of Paul Moratz, local architect and her oldest brother. She was buried near her mother at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery. Her father, Hermann, followed her in death only four days later and is buried next to her.