As one travels throughout the city of Ulm, Germany, one can see many Ulmer Spatz (sparrows) which is the symbol for the city of Ulm. The birds are found above businesses painted to represent what the particular store sells. There are large stone spatzes located in parks on which the children play. The original stone spatz that was placed on the roof of the Ulm Muenster Cathedral and only visible from the tower is now located in a glass case just inside the door of the cathedral. A replica is on the roof in place of the original bird.

The humorous poem below about the Ulmer Spatz was written in 1842 by Carl Herzog.

The spatz’s move to New Ulm was suggested by Jack Minch, a member of the Sister Cities Commission, as a possible addition to the kiosk located in Hans Joohs Park. A supporter of the Sister Cities Commission offered to pay for and have the spatz installed.

On one of his recent trips to Ulm, Commissioner Minch met with Ralf Milde of Kulturconsulting whose company makes the spatzes that are found throughout the city. He was more than willing to make the spatz and send it to New Ulm. It arrived last fall and was installed in the last few weeks.

Here is the story of the Ulmer Spatz:

The Tale of the Ulmer Sparrow

T’was many, many years ago

When the following happened in Ulm, you know!

For all the buildings in the town,

One had to bring the timber down.

It turned out to be the people’s fate

They couldn’t get the timber through the gate.

After much thinking they reached the conclusion

To lay it sideways would be the solution.

But the gate was too narrow, the beams were too wide;

The city surveyor just stood there and cried.

They talked and discussed without abating

But the problem became only more frustrating.

Even the magistrate, a man so wise

Could find in this case no helpful advice.

He looked in books, he searched all around

But nowhere was such a case to be found.

Even the mayor himself was perplexed

And had no idea what to do next;

He who always knows everything best

Became quite irate with this difficult test.

The embarrassment continued for hours, my word

And then lo and behold! Something occurred:

One bright man a sparrow did spy

Building his nest in the tower up high.

In his mouth, sideways, he carried a straw

Which he laid down in front of his tiny nest door.

And then with his beak and this is no jest

He turned it around to point to the nest.

“Well, what do you know!” Laughed the man with a roar.

“That’s how to get the beam through the door.”

So they tried and it worked, they now had it beat.

Thanks to the sparrow and his marvelous feat.

They might still be standing there now at their wall

With their cart full of timber loaded and all,

Or might without that sparrow’s knowledge

Have had to sell it or have it demolished.

In the sparrow’s honor, you can see at this hour

His picture in stone near the cathedral tower;

And Ulm’s favorite dish, from then until now

Is named after the sparrow who showed them how!