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Battery has a blast at Harkin Store Independence Day festivities

Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Battery at Attention: (left to right) Adam Dower cleans out the barrel after a successful practice fire as Matt Wellner, Bryce Stenzel and Noah Wellner stand ready to fire again.

WEST NEWTON — The New Ulm Battery paid its annual visit to Harkin Store, Sunday.

The battery has a tradition of visiting the former general store on Sunday before or after the Fourth of July.

The Battery was originally formed in January of 1863 in the wake of the U.S. Dakota War of 1862 to defend New Ulm. Fortunately, the Battery cannon never needed to be fired in defense, but the battery has kept going.

Every half hour, the battery members practice fired the cannon from the Harkin Store parking lot. This year the soldiers manning the battery were Jon Hoffmann, Bryce Stenzel, Adam Dower, Matt Wellner, Noah Wellner and John Fritsche as Commander.

For each firing, the men would switch position to give them experience on a different task related to firing the cannon.

Asked if the humidity affected the firing of the cannon, Fritsche said it might affect the acoustics of the cannon but the powder would not change because of humidity.

“The people operated the cannon are more likely to be affected by the weather,” Fritsche said.

In the Civil War era, moisture mixing with black powder could be a problem, but in 2019 the battery secured its powder in plastic bags.

Fritsche said if they were using real munitions he could hit his cousin’s barn across the Minnesota River.

“We could easily fire a mile and a quarter,” he said.

Up to the hill from the cannon, the Harkin Store was decorated with Independence Day bunting. New Harkin Store workers Ella Henry and Sarah Busse demonstrated old fashion pioneer games in between serving lemonade and watermelon to guests.

Next Sunday, the Harkin Store will host a program on 1870s fashion. Visitors will see the clothes of Elizabeth Harkin Russell, the daughter of original Harkin Store owner Alexander Harkin. The event will be attended by Alexander Harkin’s great grandaughters.

The New Ulm Battery will visit Riverside Park in New Ulm for the July 3rd Independence Day Celebration. The battery will fire the cannon during a performance from the New Ulm Municipal Band. The Riverside Park celebration begins at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

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