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New Ulm Battery receives donation

By Clay Schuldt 2 min read
Staff photo by Clay Schuldt The New Ulm Area Foundation (NUAF) gave the New Ulm Battery a donation to help with historic preservation of a Civil War-era cannon carriage. From left, Jenna Peterson, John Illikman, Pat Herzog, Mary Ellen Domeier, Bruce Olson, Chad Wengert, Tony Arndt, John Fritsche, Lauri Stark, Tom Hayes and Kathy Van Roekel. Not pictured, battery member Jeff Sieve who was thanked by the battery for writing the grant application to NUAF.

NEW ULM -- The New Ulm Area Foundation (NUAF) awarded the New Ulm Battery a check for $2,500.

This grant money will be used by the New Ulm Battery to purchase an aluminum replicate for the cannon carriage on display at City Hall.

Battery President Tony Arndt said the new aluminum replica would replace the original Civil War-era carriage currently on display at City Hall. The City Hall display area is not climate-controlled and the wooden carriage is starting to dry-rot. The New Ulm Battery wants to remove the original wooden carriage to better preserve it at the battery headquarters. The new aluminum carriage would be placed in the City Hall display.

The battery has already ordered the aluminum carriage. The donation from NUAF will help cover the remaining costs. The battery hopes to have the new carriage by the end of June.

NUAF Executive Director John Illikman said historic preservation is one of the main goals of the foundation and the battery fits that category perfectly.

"These guys do an amazing job of historic preservation," Illikman said.

The New Ulm Battery was first formed in the aftermath of the U.S. Dakota War of 1862 and never formally disbanded. Around 1900 the battery transferred from state control to city control and technically remains an active unit, but its services are mostly ceremonial.

Arndt said the battery is always looking for new members. The only requirements are the members be 18 years old, have an open mind and are willing to learn.

Starting at /week.