New Ulm, Minnesota
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
New Ulm is a city in Brown County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,594 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Brown County6. It is famous for a statue of Hermann the German. The city was founded in 1854 by German Immigrants: Christian Ludwig Meyer, Alois Palmer, Athanasius Henle, and Franz Massopoust. The city was named in honor of the south Germany city Ulm. Today Ulm is New Ulm's sister city. In part due to the city's German heritage, it is a center for brewing in the Upper Midwest, home to the historic, storied August Schell Brewing Company. In 1862, the city was attacked and burned by Taoyateduta (Little Crow) and his Dakota Sioux warriors.[1] The modern day city is home to Martin Luther College. Flandrau State Park is adjacent to the city.
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.3 km² (9.0 mi²). 22.7 km² (8.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (2.34%) is water. The Minnesota, and Cottonwood River runs past the city on its way to the Mississippi.
[edit] The Brown County Historical Society
The Brown County Historical Society, located at 2 North Broadway houses 3 floors of exhibits and one of the largest archives in the state. It contains over 5,500 family files, microfilm of census, naturalization, church, cemetery and birth and death records as well as business and history files. [1]
[edit] Hermann Monument
The most famous landmark in New Ulm is the impressive Hermann Monument which sits high on a hill overlooking the town.
The Hermann Monument in New Ulm dominates the Minnesota River Valley skyline. Inspired by a similar monument near Detmold, Germany, this colossal figure served as an important symbol for members of Sons of Hermann, a fraternal organization of German Americans. In 1885 the 362 Sons of Hermann lodges across the country committed themselves to the construction of a monument representing their cultural heritage. Through the determined efforts of Minnesota’s 53 Sons of Hermann lodges, the monument was built in New Ulm, home to many German immigrants. The sculptor chosen for this huge project was a German sculptor from Ohio, Alfonz Palzer.
Hermann Monument has a total height of 102 feet. Constructed of sheet copper over iron, the 32-foot statue stands on a 70-foot iron column encircled by a spiral staircase to the dome, which is supported by 10 iron columns and a Kasota stone base. The only National Register property of its kind in Minnesota, the monument remains, for many Minnesotans of German descent, an impressive remembrance of their homeland.
Hermann (Arminius), a Cheruscan chieftain, spearheaded the struggle to defend German tribes against a Roman imperial army. In time the Hermann story became a legend and Hermann a symbol of strength and unity in preserving freedom throughout Germany and for all German Americans.
The 106th Congress (2000) of the United States designated the Hermann Monument in New Ulm to be an official symbol of all citizens of German heritage.[2] The monument was refurbished in 2005. Visitors can climb the spiral staircase at the base and have a stunning view of the Minnesota River Valley below.
[edit] German Bohemian Monument
An impressive monument to German-Bohemian immigration to America is located in New Ulm, Minnesota. It was erected in 1991 by the German-Bohemian Heritage Society to honor the German-Bohemian immigrants who had the courage and foresight to come to this country. The immigrants came mostly from small villages, with the largest number from the village centers of Hostau, Muttersdorf, and Ronsperg. These were farm communities where the people lived and housed their stock, going out daily to work in the fields. Most villages had Catholic churches or chapels and the residents spoke a Bohemian dialect of German.
Inscribed in granite slabs around the base of the monument are over 350 immigrant family names. The first immigrants were farm settlers. As more and more arrived, and as they could all no longer farm, they settled in the city of New Ulm and some of the small communities to the west and north.
The bronze statue that rests on top of the granite base was designed and sculpted by the renowned sculptor Leopold Hafner, a German-Bohemian who now lives near Passau, Germany.
The monument sits proudly at 1 North German Street and is open year-round.
[edit] Minnesota Music Hall of Fame
In 1962 it was first suggested by the govenor that Minnesota develop a museum or Hall of Fame to honor the rich music heritage Minnesota has to offer. Many cities offered their cities for such a museum of Hall of Fame location.
However in 1990 New Ulm had their old library building open to offer and because of the rich ethnic music heritage here, the city was chosen for the sight. Established with categories reflecting the wide variety of Minnesota's musical heritage, the founding organization is incorporated and trademarked as the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, Inc.
The museum has displays of music memorabilia for musicians and groups from around the state. You can find memorabilia from Prince, Judy Garland, Bob Dylan to Whoopee John Wilfahrt and The Six Fat Dutchmen. The Hall of Fame and museum is located at First North Street and Broadway. In summer the museum is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day each Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Each year in October the museum holds a gala to induct new members into the Hall of Fame. The gala is referred to as Minnesota's Grammies.
[edit] Polka Capital of the Nation
Music was always a part of life in New Ulm, especially with the arrival of the musically-inclined German-Bohemians in the 1870s. However, New Ulm took a major leap to national prominence in the 1920s.
Whoopee John Wilfahrt’s successful career opened the door to what became known as “Old-Time” music. After him, other local bands such as those led by Harold Loeffelmacher, Babe Wagner, Elmer Scheid and Fezz Fritsche kept New Ulm well known around the state and region. They even produced nationally popular recordings.
With the opening of George’s Ballroom and the New Ulm Ballroom and the start of KNUJ radio station in the 1940s, it was no wonder that New Ulm was called the ”Polka Capital of the Nation”.[3] For years New Ulm's famous Polka Days were known world-wide by polka lovers. The festival was held each year in July. Polka Bands played on Minnesota Street and people danced and drank beer until midnight.
The local radio Station KNUJ is the only all-polka radio station in the world.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 13,594 people, 5,494 households, and 3,554 families residing in the city. The population density was 597.8/km² (1,548.3/mi²). There were 5,736 housing units at an average density of 252.2/km² (653.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.10% White, 0.11% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.26% of the population.
There were 5,494 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,044, and the median income for a family was $51,309. Males had a median income of $34,196 versus $24,970 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,308. About 4.6% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
In 2002 the U.S. Census Bureau released a report showing New Ulm has more citizens of German descent per capita than any other city in the U.S.
[edit] Notable natives
- Famous author and artist Wanda Gag was born in New Ulm on March 11, 1893.[4] Her childhood home is open to tour.
- Hitchcock actress Tippi Hedren was born in New Ulm on January 19, 1930.[5] She was the star of Hitchcock's classic The Birds.
- Polka band leader Harold Loeffelmacher organized his band The Six Fat Dutchmen in New Ulm during the 1930s.[6] His band played polka music all over the United States.
- In 1848 August Schell moved to New Ulm from Germany. Here he started the famous August Schell Brewing Company. The brewery is still in business today. He died in New Ulm in 1891.
- Former Oakland A's catcher Terry Steinbach was born in New Ulm on March 2, 1962.[7] He played on the All Star Team three times and in 1988 was voted the MVP.
- Whoopee John Wilfahrt was born in 1893 on a farm near New Ulm, Minnesota.[8] He became the leader of one of the most successful polka bands in the nation.
- John Lind, although he was born in Sweden John Lind immigrated to the United States and called New Ulm his hometown. He was a successful lawyer and was elected the 14th governor of Minnesota.[9] He was the state's governor from 1899–1901 and then a United States Congressman.
- Audrey Rose Mohr, the 2006 Princess Kay of the Milky Way, is from New Ulm. New Ulm is also home to Associated Milk Producers, Inc. who supply the butter for the annual Princess Kay of the Milky Way butter carvings.
[edit] See also
- German American
- Dakota War of 1862 (Sioux Uprising)
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Burnham, Frederick Russell (1926). Scouting on Two Continents. New York: Doubleday, Page and Co, p.2 (autobiographical account). ASIN B000F1UKOA.
[edit] External links
- City of New Ulm official website
- Wanda Gag Home
- Hermann Heights
- Names on the German-Bohemian Monument in New Ulm
- KNUJ Polka Radio Station
- New Ulm, Minnesota, Polka Capital of the Nation
- Travel New Ulm
- Schell's Beer
- John Lind Home
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