JUNIOR PIONEERS of New Ulm and Vicinity
The Junior Pioneers were formally organized by the children and descendants of the original settlers on Sunday afternoon, February 25, 1912, in preparation for the 50th Anniversary of “Dakota Conflict of 1862”. The Society is a 501(c)3 Charitable organization.
Purpose, The purpose of the Junior Pioneers is to… “keep green the memory of the early pioneers who settled New Ulm and the vicinity; and to preserve as much as possible the usage’s and customs, language and ideals of the early settlers...”
This is being accomplished by: a historic marker program, conducting historical programming, and collaborating with the City of New Ulm and the Brown County Historical Society. The Society is involved in planning New Ulm’s founding anniversaries and commemorative events connected with the “Dakota Conflict of 1862”. The Society was instrumental in establishing the New Ulm Public Library and Museum in 1937.
Membership is open to anyone who is a direct descendant of pioneers who lived in the New Ulm vicinity by 1870. “The vicinity” includes; the City of New Ulm; the Townships of Cottonwood, Lake Hanska, Linden, Milford, and Sigel in Brown County, the Townships of Bernadotte, Brighton, Courtland, Lafayette and West Newton in Nicollet County, and Cambria Township in Blue Earth County.
Junior Pioneer Park is located on the south side of New Ulm, on the way to Schell’s Brewery. It is adjacent to, and overlooks, an unnamed creek and the north bank of the Big Cottonwood River. It is marked by a 75th Anniversary Monument located just to the right of the gate. The property was privately purchased from the German Land Association of Minnesota in 1855 and is shown on the original 1858 plat of the City of New Ulm. A hunting club composed of 14 settlers bought the acreage in the 1870’s and named it Jägers' Rhue (Hunters' Rest). The Junior Pioneers bought the park from the hunting club in 1923.
“The objectives of this group of hunters was to preserve this property for their children and their children’s children to preserve the natural beauty for posterity, and to accommodate people who wanted to enjoy a day or an afternoon in the open, away from the humdrum of everyday life.” (Remember, this property was about two miles from the center of the fledgling town at that time). Today, it is used for official Society picnics and can be used by members for their own recreation. (Non-members can arrange to use the Park from the Junior Pioneer’s President whose contact is available at the Chamber of Commerce (507-233-4300). A contract and rental fee is required.)
Historic Marker Program, The Junior Pioneers have placed historical markers at a variety of locations around the area, which include: Turner Hall, Junior Pioneer Park, the Pioneer Section of the New Ulm City Cemetery, the original Milford Monument, the Ravine Ambush site; the original Leavenworth Rescue Expedition site, the Kiesling House, and a Pioneer Founders of New Ulm marker in German Park.
Special Events, The Society has four events per year:
The Annual Meeting and picnic commemorates the founding of New Ulm in early October of 1854.
The Fall Picnic that follows the Annual Meeting.
The Winter Social is held in February or March.
The Summer Picnic at our Park.
Speakers or programming on topics relevant to New Ulm are featured at the Annual Meeting and Winter Social, along with a banquet and short business meeting, usually at Turner Hall.
The Pioneer Newsletter is mailed three times a year. It has developed as a means of informing the membership of new members, upcoming activities, and items of historical interest.
The Board of Directors is composed of 12 interested members who lead the organization, conduct official business, and develop activities and programming. They act as a steering committee for the society and set the vision for the society’s future.
Commemorative Junior Pioneer Pin, slightly larger than the original, is available to members. It can be worn as a tie tack, lapel pin or decorative pin. As seen below.
JOIN US …
E-mail us at JPOFNU@HOTMAIL.COM
Or write for an application at:
Junior Pioneers of New Ulm and Vicinity
P. O. Box 22
New Ulm, MN 56073
If you have the following requirements:
In order to become a member, it is necessary to have had a direct ancestor who resided or came to the New Ulm vicinity prior to 1870. “Vicinity” includes the City of New Ulm and the townships of Cottonwood, Lake Hanska, Linden, Milford and Sigel in Brown County, the townships of Bernadotte, Brighton, Courtland, Lafayette and West Newton in Nicollet County and Cambria Township in Blue Earth County.
The Junior Pioneers were formally organized by the children and descendants of the original settlers on Sunday afternoon, February 25, 1912, in preparation for the 50th Anniversary of “Dakota Conflict of 1862”. The Society is a 501(c)3 Charitable organization.
Purpose, The purpose of the Junior Pioneers is to… “keep green the memory of the early pioneers who settled New Ulm and the vicinity; and to preserve as much as possible the usage’s and customs, language and ideals of the early settlers...”
This is being accomplished by: a historic marker program, conducting historical programming, and collaborating with the City of New Ulm and the Brown County Historical Society. The Society is involved in planning New Ulm’s founding anniversaries and commemorative events connected with the “Dakota Conflict of 1862”. The Society was instrumental in establishing the New Ulm Public Library and Museum in 1937.
Membership is open to anyone who is a direct descendant of pioneers who lived in the New Ulm vicinity by 1870. “The vicinity” includes; the City of New Ulm; the Townships of Cottonwood, Lake Hanska, Linden, Milford, and Sigel in Brown County, the Townships of Bernadotte, Brighton, Courtland, Lafayette and West Newton in Nicollet County, and Cambria Township in Blue Earth County.
Junior Pioneer Park is located on the south side of New Ulm, on the way to Schell’s Brewery. It is adjacent to, and overlooks, an unnamed creek and the north bank of the Big Cottonwood River. It is marked by a 75th Anniversary Monument located just to the right of the gate. The property was privately purchased from the German Land Association of Minnesota in 1855 and is shown on the original 1858 plat of the City of New Ulm. A hunting club composed of 14 settlers bought the acreage in the 1870’s and named it Jägers' Rhue (Hunters' Rest). The Junior Pioneers bought the park from the hunting club in 1923.
“The objectives of this group of hunters was to preserve this property for their children and their children’s children to preserve the natural beauty for posterity, and to accommodate people who wanted to enjoy a day or an afternoon in the open, away from the humdrum of everyday life.” (Remember, this property was about two miles from the center of the fledgling town at that time). Today, it is used for official Society picnics and can be used by members for their own recreation. (Non-members can arrange to use the Park from the Junior Pioneer’s President whose contact is available at the Chamber of Commerce (507-233-4300). A contract and rental fee is required.)
Historic Marker Program, The Junior Pioneers have placed historical markers at a variety of locations around the area, which include: Turner Hall, Junior Pioneer Park, the Pioneer Section of the New Ulm City Cemetery, the original Milford Monument, the Ravine Ambush site; the original Leavenworth Rescue Expedition site, the Kiesling House, and a Pioneer Founders of New Ulm marker in German Park.
Special Events, The Society has four events per year:
The Annual Meeting and picnic commemorates the founding of New Ulm in early October of 1854.
The Fall Picnic that follows the Annual Meeting.
The Winter Social is held in February or March.
The Summer Picnic at our Park.
Speakers or programming on topics relevant to New Ulm are featured at the Annual Meeting and Winter Social, along with a banquet and short business meeting, usually at Turner Hall.
The Pioneer Newsletter is mailed three times a year. It has developed as a means of informing the membership of new members, upcoming activities, and items of historical interest.
The Board of Directors is composed of 12 interested members who lead the organization, conduct official business, and develop activities and programming. They act as a steering committee for the society and set the vision for the society’s future.
Commemorative Junior Pioneer Pin, slightly larger than the original, is available to members. It can be worn as a tie tack, lapel pin or decorative pin. As seen below.
JOIN US …
E-mail us at JPOFNU@HOTMAIL.COM
Or write for an application at:
Junior Pioneers of New Ulm and Vicinity
P. O. Box 22
New Ulm, MN 56073
If you have the following requirements:
In order to become a member, it is necessary to have had a direct ancestor who resided or came to the New Ulm vicinity prior to 1870. “Vicinity” includes the City of New Ulm and the townships of Cottonwood, Lake Hanska, Linden, Milford and Sigel in Brown County, the townships of Bernadotte, Brighton, Courtland, Lafayette and West Newton in Nicollet County and Cambria Township in Blue Earth County.
