News of New Ulm from 100 years ago
BIG
CELEBRATION OF FOURTH HERE
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American Legion and Fair Association
Completing Elaborate Preparations for Event.
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PARADE, BAND CONCERTS, BALL GAME, FIREWORKS
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Senator Henry N. Benson of St. Peter Will
Deliver Patriotic Address in Morning.
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The eagle will scream lustily in New Ulm on the Glorious Fourth, due to the combined efforts of Ben. J. Seifert Post, American Legion, of this city and the Brown County Fair association, which organizations will stage a monster joint celebration of the nation’s birthday. Elaborate preparations that have kept committees busy for several weeks past, are nearing completion, and with favorable weather conditions,the affair promises to be one of the biggest ever pulled off in this section of the state.
Parade at 10 A.M.
Promptly at 10 o’clock, Wednesday morning, July 4, a large patriotic and industrial parade will wend its way through the principal streets of the city. Various local industrial and mercantile establishments have promised to prepare suitable floats for the big pageant and a formidable array is anticipated, Sen. Benson Speaks.
Senator Henry N. Benson of St. Peter will be the speaker of the day. He will deliver a patriotic address immediately following the parade. Senator Benson is a forceful and interesting speaker.
Bands Engaged.
Two bands have been engaged to participate in the parade and render music during the day’s festivities, as well as give concerts along Minnesota street in the evening. The Pioneer band of New Ulm and the Orpheus band of Springfield will provide ample musical entertainment for the celebrants. The Peerless band of this city will probably be engaged.
Exciting Ball Game.
The crack Sleepy Eye baseball nine has been matched up with the fast aggregation of horsehide pounders from St. James at the fair grounds in the afternoon, and diamond fans are assured a hotly contested and exciting game. This bill alone will help to swell the celebration crowds, as baseball has always proved a good draw-ing card.
Gymnastic Exhibition.
One of the novel features of the big event will be a mass gymnastic exhibition staged at the fair grounds by the various classes of the New Ulm Turnverein, about 150 in number. A special program of suitable calisthenic and dance numbers has been arranged and will form an interesting part of the afternoon program at the fair grounds.
Auto Races.
A contract has been signed up with the Northwestern Auto Racing Co. to stage a one-mile auto race against time, as well as a three-mile, a five-mile and a 10-mile race on the newly reconstructed track at the fair grounds, in which some of the best drivers from six northwest states will participate. These speed events promise ample excitement for those interested in automobile racing.
Grand Fireworks Display.
A magnificent fireworks display costing in the neighborhood of $1,000, will be shown on the greens north of German park during the evening, preceded by street concerts to be given by the three bands. A number of elegant set pieces, together with many smaller fireworks are included in the display. After the fireworks, a big dance will be given at the New Ulm Armory.
Brown County Journal
June 22, 1923
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DANCE DISTURBERS FINED $100 EACH
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Wm. and Richard Knudson of Courtland Plead Guilty to Assaulting an Officer at Terpsichorean Event Last Thursday Night.-Alf. Hulke Demands Jury Trial, Set for Yesterday.-Warrant Issued for Arrest of Wm. Tanley, Jr.
Wm. and Richard Knudson of Courtland were fined $100 and costs each, with an alternative of 60 days in the Nicollet county jail, upon their pleas of guilty on charges of assaulting an officer, as an aftermath of a free-for-all fight which ensued at a dance in that village, last Thursday night. Alf. Hulke, arrested on a like charge, waived examination and demanded a jury trial which was set for yesterday. All three young men appeared before a justice of the peace at St. Peter. A warrant has also been issued for the arrest of Wm. Tanley, Jr., said to be implicated in the unpleasant affair with the three named above.
Resists Arrest.
Henry Meyer of Courtland, who had been appointed police officer at the dance in question, in accordance with a provision of the new state law, relative to the conduct of public dances, passed by the last legislature, attempted to arrest Wm. Knudson for alleged disorderly conduct. This action is said to have been resented in no uncertain manner by the other three, and a free-for-all fight ensued, in which the officer was assisted by his brother. The outcome was that Sheriff Chas. Norman of St. Peter served the three warrants the following day, and hauled the defendants up before a St. Peter justice.
Brown County Journal,
June 22, 1923
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HUNDREDS HERE ON CIRCUS DAY
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Fourteen Cars Are Required to Carry World Brothers’
Outfit.-Big Parade Attracted Hundreds.
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CAME FROM MANKATO-SPRINGFIELD WEDNESDAY
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Circus Carried Big Spread of Canvas and Put on Good Show Afternoon and Evening.
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New Ulm was filled to the brim by noon Tuesday, circus day. Early that morning automobile loads of those, who desired to take in the big World Bros. circus commenced to arrive, and by ten o’clock Minnesota street was lined with cars.
Parade at 12:30 0’Clock.
The parade wended its way through the principal streets of the city at 12:30 o’clock and the small boy as well as his sister were on hand to see the wild animals. The lions and elephants were there, together with a large number of other animals of the jungle.
Many of the small boys of the city were on hand to carry water to the elephants early Tuesday morning, when the big special train arrived the best show areas in the United States.
The circus carries a big spread of canvas, including besides the big top, two side shows,menagerie, pad room and cook tent.
Many Animals Carried.
All of the animals carried by the show are in good condition. Among the attractions in this department are Captain Furtelle’s forest lions; Langdon and Elliot’s performing elephants, a baby camel and Fritz Bruner’s black bears. The famous Buchanan dancing horses, here with Yankee Robinson several years ago, have been purchased by the management and performed in the ring. The Smith dogs, with the leaping Russian wolf hounds, have a good act.
The show carries its own cook tent in which its 250 employees are fed. This tent is the first up on the lot and is ready for business at seven o’clock in the morning. Twenty-two assistants are employed to prepare the circus meals. For dinner Tuesday a crate of eggs, seventy pounds of beef and 120 loaves of bread were used. An example of the social distinction found in circuses was shown in the eating tent, which was divided into two sections, one for the performers and musicians and the other for the tent men and roustabouts.
Behind the main tent was located a portable blacksmith shop and a barber shop. The show is entirely lighted by electricity.
Outside of the steel arena in the tent, the chief attractions are the Davenport family of bareback artists, formerly with Ringling’s; the Wilson aerialists, who give the crowds a big thrill with what is known in circus parlance as the “whirl of death;” the Lloyd aerial performers and Joe Marvello’s high jumping horse, beside clown acts.
The show went from here to Springfield, where it held forth Wednesday.
Many At Performances.
The big tent was packed at the afternoon and evening performances.
Brown County Journal,
June 22, 1923
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NEW DRUG STORE TO OPEN JUNE 30
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Epple Bros. Will Launch Their Pharmacy in Weiser Block on North Minnesota Street.
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ELEGANT NEW FIXTURES EXPECTED IN FEW DAYS
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Up-to-the-Minute Prescription Department and Day and Night Service Are Features.
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New Ulm’s fifth pharmacy will be formally opened to the public by Epple Bros. of this city in the Weiser block on North Minnesota street, formerly occupied by the Pioneer drug store, Saturday, June 30. A formal reception will be held on that day and there will be carnations for the ladies, cigars for the men and candy for the children.
Native Sons.
Both members of the new drug store firm – Joseph A. and Elmer A. Epple – are native sons of New Ulm, and practically grew up in the business, having served their apprenticeship in the Pioneer drug store and worked themselves up to the rank of full-fledged registered pharmacists, graduating from the Minnesota Institute of Pharmacy and passing the Minnesota State Board of Pharmacy with splendid records. The senior member of the firm was employed in Backer’s pharmacy here for several years, after qualifying as a registered pharmacist, while the junior member has been in charge of the prescription department in Hoppe’s pharmacy, Minneapolis, since becoming a registered pharmacist about a year and a half ago. Before entering the pharmaceutical institute, Elmer A. was employed in the Schmucker & Burk pharmacy here for two years They will be assisted in their new drug store by their sister, Miss Clara Epple, who has been teaching school since graduating from the local high school a few years ago.
Up-to-Date Fixtures.
The new drug store will be equipped with the last word in modern, standard fixtures. The wood-work will be of mission finished oak, and the floor show cases will have inclined fronts. A Flexotile sanitary floor has been laid and will add greatly to the tidy appearance of the store.
Prescription Department.
One of the big features of the new pharmacy will be its prescription department, where registered pharmacists will be in charge day and night, thus providing the best of service for its patrons. A refrigerator for storing serums and vaccines, the first of its kind to be used in New Ulm, is an innovation that will assure fresh and full-strength serums and vaccines at all times. Special stress will be laid on the prescription department, where high-grade pure prescription chemicals and pharmaceutical supplies will be carried in stock, but the new drug store will also handle high-grade lines of drugs, household remedies, toilet articles, kodaks and supplies, stationery, school supplies and other goods usually to be found in an up-to-date pharmacy. In addition thereto, Epple Bros. have secured the local agency for a well-known phonograph and records.
Brown County Journal,
June 22, 1923
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MOTOR CARAVAN IN NEW ULM, JUNE 21
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Touring Minnesota “Valley of Kings” Explored Century Ago.-Entertainment Arranged.
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SNELLING-FT. RIDGELY WAY REPLETE-HISTORY
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Plans of Tour Outlined. Tour Arrived in New Ulm Yesterday.-Reception and
Program Was Held.
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Following the path of empire through Minnesota’s own “Valley of the Kings,” pioneers who helped make a state from a wilderness went down the historic Sioux trail Thursday, June 21, to see what a century has wrought through a country where every acre of soil was won with blood.
Where traders fought off the Sioux, building little trading posts on the edge of savagery, the pioneers stopped their automobiles and looked out on peaceful farms and busy towns.
Where the last Sioux uprising bathed the frontier in blood and set the nation on edge with the knowledge of the greatest Indian campaign recorded in the United States, they stopped on paved highways to look off across green hills and wooded plains and give honor to the brave men who made the new “Valley of the Kings” possible.
The tour called for a caravan of many men and women whose lives have been spent in the state, setting out in automobiles to follow the trail of the first official exploration of the Minnesota valley in 1823 to its source. The trail of 1923 wound up the valley from Fort Snelling through Mendota, Shakopee, Jordan, Belle Plaine, Le Sueur, on to Traverse de Sioux, thence to St. Peter, Mankato, New Ulm, Fort Ridgely (Minnesota’s farthest frontier military outpost and scene of the most critical conflict of any Indian war) to Redwood Falls, on to the Wood Lake battlefield monument, through Granite Falls to Camp Release, through Watson, Bellingham, Ortonville,and at last to Browns Valley, ending the tour.
All Towns Replete
With History.
Not one of the towns and scenes visited but has its background of history. And historians and pioneers believe they will come back with a much greater knowledge of the way the thing was done – and probably new facts not before recorded.
John Calhoun, secretary of war under James Monroe,ordered “an expedition to the source of the St. Peter river” 100 years ago. That expedition began opening up of the Minnesota valley. From 1823 dates the story of strife against man and beast through which the pioneers won Minnesota for their own.
Minneapolis parties started out from the Automobile club town house June 21, at 8 a.m., joining other twin city tourists who had a rendezvous at Ft. Snelling, Shakopee at 9 a.m.
Half Hour at
Traverse de Sioux.
The caravan passed Mendota and Sibley house, going on to Shakopee. The trail was broken for a half hour at Traverse de Sioux, where historians discussed the historic day when Sioux Indians ceded 30,000,000 acres of land to the whites – the greatest real estate transfer ever made by Indians in the west. They went on again, passing Kasota and entering Mankato, to halt again for a brief program on the site of the execution of 38 Sioux, the last penalty imposed upon the Indians for the uprising of 1862. A picnic dinner was enjoyed there and at 2 o’clock the caravan continued.
New Ulm at 3 o’Clock.
The trail swung on down the valley past Nicollet and Courtland and to New Ulm, arrival being made at 3 o’clock. A reception and program were held here for some 45 minutes.
Speeches of welcome were a feature of the stop. New Ulm, the scene of the famous massacre contains many historic spots, which were visited.
The caravan left the main highway at New Ulm, turning to Ft. Ridgely. Residents of Fairfax and vicinity entertained the tourists at a 6 p.m, picnic supper. Then an evening drive through Fairfax,
Franklin and Morton brought the party to Redwood Falls – half way between the upper and lower extremities of the Minnesota valley, and midway of the tour. Arrival at Redwood Falls was scheduled at 7:50 o’clock.
Folwell Chapter to Be Read.
There the pioneers will listen to the reading of the chapter named “Causes of the Sioux Outbreak,” in the second volume of Dr. William Watts FolWell’s History of Minnesota, which is to be published in the fall. In the two days at Redwood Falls there will be a tour of Ramsey state park and another in which tourists will follow footpaths to monuments and historic landmarks in Redwood and Renville counties.
The trip will be resumed June 23, when tourists will go on through Delhi,Belview and Echo to the Wood Lake battlefield, which marks the last military engagement in the Sioux uprising of 1862.
From there the trail will drop back into the Minnesota valley, carrying the pioneers past Upper Sioux agency and Hazel Wood mission, through Granite Falls and to Camp Release – at which 200 white prisoners, the largest number of white captives ever held by Indians in America, were liberated from their captors by troops under General H. H, Sibley. Lunch will be eaten at Montevideo, and the caravan will swing on through Wat-Bon, Lac Qui Parle Mission and the old Lac Qui Parle, Madison, Bellingham, Odessa, to Ortonville, for supper. Indian exhibits and pictures by Roland Reed, and an entertainment.
Many to Join
Tour En Route.
The next day, Sunday, will find the caravan driving along the eastern shore of Big Stone lake, through Foster and Beardsley and to Brown’s Valley, where a historical pageant, a spectacle of Minnesota’s growth from the time of the first settlers, will be given. That will end the tour.
H. M. Hitchcock of Redwood Falls is chairman of the anniversary tour, and Miss Grace Kaercher is secretary, with headquarters at the state capitol. Others in charge include Theodore C. Blegen, assistant superintendent of the Minnesota Historical society, St. Paul; John J. Mooney, president of the Sioux Historic Trail association, Granite Falls; Charles H. Hopkins, secretary of the Fort Ridgely association, Fairfax, and Sam Y. Gordon, representing Brown’s Valley.
Brown County Journal,
June 22, 1923
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