Trimming the Heritage tree

Figures

depict

city's history

NEW ULM -- One of New Ulm's 150th birthday presents, a Heritage Tree, got its trimming Thursday evening.

With an assist from an elevated platform, 12 metal figures depicting aspects of New Ulm's history were placed on the 12 branches of the tree, which is located at First South and Minnesota Streets.

Denis Warta, who has worked to get the tree in place for the city's 150th, explained the significance of each piece, which were cut by metalsmith Arnie Lillo of Goodthunder.

Figures representing Turner Hall and the railroad anchor the bottom branches. Flandrau State Park is on the next branch, along with a figure representing the steamboats and river traffic so important to New Ulm's early history.

The New Ulm Battery is shown firing a cannon, and a German band plays while people dance on the next branch. The milling industry and the brewing trade are represented, along with the fire department, which fought many mill fires.

New Ulm's popcorn wagon is depicted, along with the Franklin School, the city's first school building.

The top branches are decorated with a barn scene, depicting the important agricultural industry, and a depiction of the Doughboy statue in the New Ulm cemetery honors the city's veterans.

Topping the tree is an oak tree, which represents the large oak, which still stands near the site of the Heritage Tree, that was used as a landmark in first laying out the city.

The tree will get a more formal dedication on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Cutline:

Staff photo by Kevin Sweeney

Stan and Benny Carda play "America the Beautiful" at the decoration celebration of the Heritage Tree Thursday evening.