×

Hiking through Flandrau’s history

Staff photo by Clay Schuldt The Cottonwood Dam was originally located upstream from Flandrau and helped create at 209-acre reservoir. However, frequent flooding of the Cottonwood destroyed the dam multiple times. After it was wrecked in 1969 the decision was made to not rebuild and the reservoir vanished.

NEW ULM — Scott Kudelka led a history hike through Flandrau State Park Saturday morning. Kudelka told the story of the work programs responsible for constructing the buildings in Flandrau during the Depression.

The hike through the park was originally intended as a snow shoe hike, but with unseasonably warm weather (the high hit 57 degrees Saturday) the snow shoes were abandoned.

Unpredictable weather played a large part in Flandrau’s history, Kudelka said. In the 1930s a dam was built upstream on the Cottonwood to create a 209-acre reservoir in Flandrau. This dam would be flooded out multiple times, requiring repairs. The dam was lost during the 1965 flood and repaired for the last time in 1968. One year later the Cottonwood overran the dam again and it was decided not to rebuild.

The old reservoir was created in the park for recreation purposes. The state bought Flandrau for the purpose of creating a recreational lake. Other recreational lakes had existed in the area but were drained away.

Evidence of the reservoir still exists in the park. A large building near the current swimming pond is called the Beach House.

Staff photo by Clay Schuldt DNR Naturalist Scott Kudelka prepares to lead a historic themed hike through Flandrau State Park. The tour explores the history of the make-work programs that built the park in the 30s and 40s.

“It’s not called that because of the pond,” Kudelka said. “It use to be on the edge of the reservoir and there was a real beach.”

The Beach house and most of the other buildings and improvements in Flandrau were constructed by three make-work programs.

In June, 1935 The Veterans Conservation Corp (VCC) established a camp in Flandrau. Between 80 and 100 veterans of the first war worked on the dam’s earthen dikes and cleared the lakebed. By 1936 the VCC were transferred to different camps.

The Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) would continue work on the dikes and trail systems. The majority of the men enrolled in the CCC camp came from a 50-mile radius around New Ulm. Those in the CCC were men between 18 and 25 years old with families on relief or in need of income.

Kudelka said the young men enrolled in the CCC were paid $30 a month. They were allowed to keep $5 while $25 was sent home to their families. The program was used as a economic stimulus program.

The CCC camps were run by the Army to maintain organization and discipline. The camps likely helped many of the young men transition into army life after the start of WWII. The CCC program did come to an end with the start of WWII.

Local Work Progress Administration (WPA) workers completed the park projects in 1941 including the beach house, manger’s residence and garage. WPA workers also constructed Johnson Park in New Ulm around the same time. WPA projects typically had a uniform look, but the buildings at Flandrau were given a unique design. The beach house and several other building were constructed with a tall steep roof. Kudelka said this design was intended to reflect German architecture because of New Ulm’s history as German immigrant community.

The WPA group camp was established separately from the CCC camp. The group camp buildings were intended to be converted into a camp for the underprivileged, but during World War II the camp became housing for German prisoners of war.

Approximately 160 German POWS were taken to Camp New Ulm in June 1944. Most were members of the Luftwaffe.

The POW camp was located in New Ulm because the of the communities strong German heritage. People in New Ulm could speak German and the POWs were able to provide information on family members still living in Germany. Kudelka said by placing the prison camp in the middle of Minnesota the prisoners had no place to run even if they did escape. The camp only had 12 guards and no fence was installed, but no escape attempts were ever made.

The POWS worked in the Sleepy Eye cannery and some were hired to local farmers as short-term workers. The POWS filled the positions vacated by American men fighting overseas.

The most impressive part of the work done by the VCC, CCC and WPA is much of it is still used today. The structures were built to last the test of time.

The public is encouraged to tour the park and see artifacts from an uncertain time in American’s past. Flandrau was one of many projects created to lift the country out of the Depression, but it is still a valuable resource today.

“They built a legacy that will last beyond us,” Kudelka said.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
   

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today