Museum preparing WWI exhibit
Staff photo by Clay Schuldt A World War I U.S. Army uniform is among the items that will be on display in the Brown County Museum’s WWI exhibit.
Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Historian Dan Hoisington examines a World War I era German helmet that will be part of the exhibit the Brown County Historical Society is preparing on the history of World War I and New Ulm’s experience during that time.
Staff photo by Clay Schuldt A World War I U.S. Army uniform is among the items that will be on display in the Brown County Museum’s WWI exhibit.
Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Historian Dan Hoisington examines a World War I era German helmet that will be part of the exhibit the Brown County Historical Society is preparing on the history of World War I and New Ulm’s experience during that time.
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NEW ULM -- There are Civil War Buffs and there are World War II experts, but few people know much about the First World War or New Ulm's unique history with the war.
The Brown County Historical Society and Museum has decided to shine a light on this forgotten past with a new exhibit "Loyalty and Dissent-Brown County and World War I."
"WWI was an incredible time of dissent in New Ulm," Historian Dan Hoisington said. "With New Ulm being so German it played such a different role in the war than other cities."
The United States did not enter WWI until April of 1917. Before that time America attempted to stay neutral, but many Brown County residents still felt loyal to the Fatherland. The declaration of war meant German-Americans living in Brown County might be sent overseas to fight family and friends. Many chose to protest the war.
It was not long before both federal agents and secret service agents came to New Ulm to find evidence of enemy aliens and enemy sympathizers. The mayor and the city attorney of New Ulm were even removed from office by the Minnesota Commission of Public Safety after a large public meeting about the draft was held at Turner Hall Park on July 25, 1917.
Throughout the war Albert Steinhauser, the owner and publisher of the "New Ulm Review" and German-language "New Ulm Post," wrote strong editorials against the U.S. involvement in the war. In 1918, he was arrested and charged with violation of the Espionage Act. The war ended before Steinhauser was ever brought to trial and a new Attorney General dropped the charges.
On July 18, 1918 agents of the American Protective League detained three German immigrants in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The three immigrants were detained because they requested permits to travel to New Ulm. Agent R.B. Spencer wrote a report detailing the detention of the immigrants. Spencer said, "It is known that New Ulm, MN is a hot-bed of sedition."
Hoisington said the history of New Ulm during the First World War is probably one the biggest local stories to happen in the area after the U.S. Dakota War. The fact that federal agents in Wisconsin knew about New Ulm and were concerned about people traveling to the city illustrates the magnitude of events.
The museum exhibit will include a section dedicated to New Ulm's status as a city of dissenters as well as highlight the issues of first amendment rights. Even today there are many Americans who believe entering WWI was a mistake.
Hoisington said these are still issues the country struggles with today. During WWI there was a strong anti-immigrant stance and an efforts to restrict and monitor aliens.
In addition the exhibit will include displays of WWI artifacts such as uniforms, weapons, gas mask and even a replica of a World War era trench.
"When people think WWI they think trenches," Hoisington said. "We're trying to a least recreate some of the experience. I think it will be the 'wow' factor in the exhibit."
Patrons of the museum will be able to walk through the life-size trench which will included videos and sound effects to recreate the experience of life in the trenches.
The trench is being constructed by Henry Parker. Parker said the trenches were dug on the western front at the start of the war for protection. After the trenches became a static part of the war the designs became more sophisticated and began resembling homes.
A section of the museum is dedicated to the home front. Many women were involved in the Red Cross during the war and others sewed clothes for the war effort.
The exhibit will open to the public on Saturday, May 6. The opening will be free to public during regular museum hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A special VIP tour of the exhibit will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 4. This tour serves as fundraiser to cover the costs of the exhibit. Current Brown County Historical Society members will be able to tour the exhibit on May 5 from 5 to 8 p.m.