City gearing up for 150th anniversary celebrations

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- As the date for the official celebration of the 150th anniversary of the city's founding draws near, the 150th Anniversary Committee is putting the finishing touches on a smorgasbord of commemorative events and memorabilia.

Chairman Ron Fleischmann, a city councilor in his spare time, has been busy as a volunteer "answer" man, as well as making sure no heritage stone has been left unturned.

In reviewing progress, Fleischmann ticks off accomplishments:

The book by preservationist Dan Hoisington, A German Town: A History of New Ulm, Minnesota, now can be ordered with delivery expected in mid-June. The 2,500 hard-cover books are going at $39.95 a pop, with 2,000 soft-cover copies priced at 19.95 each, Fleischmann said.

"Tell them if they pick them up when (the books) come in, they won't have to pay a shipping charge. Just indicate on the order form that it will be picked up," he said. (Order forms are available at City Hall, the Chamber of Commerce and Brown County Historical Society Museum.)

A heritage tree will adorn Heritage Park, a small outcropping on South Minnesota much like the outcropping on North Minnesota for the Glockenspiel.

"This will give visitors walking on Minnesota a sight-line from the Glockenspiel on the west side of the street to the heritage tree on the east side of Minnesota."

Fleischmann said the fact that Minnesota Street "crowns" between those two points of interest, making it difficult for viewers standing at either location to see the other, doesn't destroy the illusion.

Artisan Arnie Lillo of Good Thunder was commissioned to do the metal work, and local artist John Ingebritson is charged with painting the metal sculptures depicting scenes from New Ulm's past which serve as the tree's branches.

An oak tree patterned after the large oak tree on German Street that served as a surveyor's reference point in laying out the town adorns the top of the 30-foot pole that serves as the tree's trunk, Fleischmann said.

"The idea came from the heritage trees that you see in some towns in Germany."

However, Fleischmann really gets excited talking about the two live/silent auctions and the final celebrity item auction that will be held during the course of the city's 150th anniversary celebration. That's because he's been working on finding items for the auctions for five years now.

The first live/silent auction is set for June 19 in the community room at the Marktplatz Mall, running from 3 p.m. "to roughly 5 p.m." The other live/silent auction will be one of the Heritagefest attractions, being held at the fairgrounds starting at 7 p.m.

An auction item that is really special to him is on the live-auction list for June 19, Fleischmann said.

"It's an 8-by-10 autographed picture of The Righteous Brothers, and since one of the brothers is deceased, that makes it really special."

Twenty-four items are on the list for the June 19 live auction, including a sold-out New Ulm 150th Anniversary Medallion, a Mike Eruzione autographed 1980 Olympics hockey puck, four Minnesota Twins reserved seat tickets for any home game this season and a Tippi Hedren gift package of two autographed photos, two Shambala Preserve sweatshirts, a "The Roar" video, poster and collector album, a "Life with the Big Cats" video, a stuffed elephant and a bottle of Shambala Cologne.

Those attending the live auction also will be able to bid on 77 items in the June 19 silent auction. Most of the items are celebrity photos. The July 10 live auction features 26 items, including a Wheel of Fortune gift basket, a t-shirt, carry bag and CD all autographed by the singing group, Peter, Paul and Mary, a 50-year-old Schell's Beer Centennial Coin, a Doug Mientkiewicz bobblehead doll and supper with a Twins great ballplayer (to be named later). There are 61 items so far for the companion silent auction.

The celebrity item auction will start at noon Sunday, Aug. 15, at the fairgrounds.

(The anniversary committee has a website -- www.newulm150th.com -- where you actually can view the individual auction items in full color.)

"I'm also excited the program we have lined up for the actual celebration (Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 13-15)," Fleischmann said. "On Friday, we have community picnic at German park for the Pergola dedication. There will be a Menagerie Reunion and Salty Dogs and Schell's Hobo Band will perform (from 4-7 p.m.), and there's a rodeo at the fairgrounds."

Saturday's schedule features the Heritage Tree and Jr. Pioneer Marker dedication at 11 a.m. at Heritage Park. That's followed by the Turner Hall Fest (11 a.m.-4 p.m.) featuring the Concord Singers, Wendinger Brothers' Band and The Original German Band.

Founder's Banquet ("tickets are limited") at Turner Halle runs from 5 p.m.-8 p.m., and there is a demolition derby at the fairgrounds

Sunday's program opens with German-language church services, followed by a community pancake breakfast at the fairgrounds from 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Starting at 1:30 p.m. at Riverside Park, the New Ulm municipal band will play the 1812 overture supported by "nine to 12" cannons obtained by the New Ulm Battery for the occasion.

The celebration's finale will be a concert by the Military Band of New Orleans at Martin Luther College, starting at 7 p.m.