George’s Ballroom has been part of New Ulm for over eight decades and located at the heart of the city on Center Street. The ballroom was a popular venue following WWII. It hosted many dances and wedding receptions. It features an 86 by 70 foot dance floor and a large stage for bands. It was also the center of big bands and polka. Performers included Lawrence Welk, Henry James, the Dorsey Brothers, the Andrews Sisters, Glenn Miller, Whoopie John and the Six Fat Dutchmen. The ballroom continued to host live music through the 1980s, but the end of the ballroom era was drawing near. The ballroom closed in 1991. The owner George Neuwirth died in 1995. The building remained vacant for over a decade and a series of ownership issues followed. Brown County acquired the building through tax foreclosure. It was sold at auction and reopened briefly, but went back to Brown County in 2019 following another tax forfeiture.

The community efforts to restore the ballroom were attempted by arrived to late. The interior of George’s Ballroom had deteriorate significantly in the decades it sat empty. Trees and shrubs were growing out of the roof and mold was found inside the building, posing a health hazard. By 2020, the county and city realized the building would need to be demolished. The county authorized demolition in 2019. New Ulm Heritage Preservation Commission would later agree to move forward with the demolition.

Minnesota State Historic Preservation (MSHP) required the city and county meet certain requirements before the historic site was demolished. This included salvaging any artifacts from the building and organizing a street dance to commemorate the building. The street dance was held in 2023 and the only item that could be salvaged was the art deco sign outside the building.

In 2024, the Coldwell Banker Commercial Fisher Group of Mankato planned to redevelop the site into residential apartment units. This included demolishing the ballroom. The Fisher Group agreed to remove the sign before fully demolishing the building. The actual demolition began in early December, beginning at the back of the building. The Center Street front face of the building was the last go. The marquee sign was taken down to be refurbished before the last walls of Georges came down.

Staff photo by Ari Selvey The upside down Christmas tree sitting next to Herman the German in Hermann Heights Park is an excellent add to any tour of lights in New Ulm. Photos of the tree have appeared far and wide.

The demolition process was fully documented by the nonprofit Big Ideas. A camera with a 24/7 web connection recorded the entire process of the demolition and was watched by thousands. Many watched the demolition in person.

By the end of the year, all four walls of the former Ballroom were down and demo crews worked to remove the debris from the site. The construction on a new apartment building on the site is expected to begin in Spring 2025.

2.) Summer rains flood southern MN threaten infrastructure

In late June, southern Minnesota was inundated with heavy rains resulting in region wide flooding. However, since the last few years saw relatively little rain, shorelines around area rivers had a high number of dead trees. These trees fell into rivers pulling in extra sediment causing river bank erosion. The trees posed a risk to bridge infrastructure. Brown County work crews removed several trees from the Cottonwood River to prevent a logjam at the Cottonwood Bridge. New Ulm managed to avoid significant infrastructure damage, however 30 miles away, the Rapidan Dam faced n imminent risk of failure. On June 24, the dam experienced a partial failure of the western abutment. The western bank began to rapidly erode into the river. Within two days of the partial failure, an Xcel Energy substation was lost to the river followed by a home overlooking the dam. The historic Dam Store located near the dam was eventually demolished and removed from the site to avoid further debris going into the river.

As a result of damage Blue Earth County voted to remove the dam and replace the adjacent County Highway 9 Bridge.

3.) NUMAS purchase First United Methodist building to expand shelter

On, Jan. 28, First United Methodist held its last worship service at Broadway and Center Street. The congregation moved worship services two blocks down to the Junique Center at 125 S. Broadway. The Junique Center previously served as St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and is well known for its bright red door.

The main reason for the move is congregation size. Church membership has been shrinking and the board believed it was unnecessary to continuing maintain a large 100 year old building. In addition, the church decided to sell the building to the New Ulm Ministerial Association (NUMAS) Haus.

On Jan. 31, NUMAS Haus formally acquired the former First United Methodist building. The non-profit already operated a shelter next door to First United Methodist and had offices inside the church building. With the purchase of the entire building, NUMAS is able to expand its footprint and create additional housing for families in need.

In September, NUMAS announced the Hope Grows capital campaign pay for the renovations. The plan is to create five additional bedrooms and two transitional units in the building. This will increase the capacity of NUMAS Haus.

The first phase will cost roughly $1.1 million. The board estimates that the first phase of renovation is 50% funded thanks in part to combined $300,000 donations from the Ryberg and Mickelson families. In December, South Country Health Alliance (SCHA) distributed grants to several organizations in Minnesota, which included $250,000 for NUMAS Haus.

4.) Nadel Kunst closes after the owner’s death

After 47 years in business in the New Ulm Community, Nadel Kunst knitting and supply closed. Since 1983, Cindy Hillesheim ran the popular yarn, embroidery, notion, patterns and knitting accessory store at 212 N. Minnesota Street. On Oct. 9, Hillesheim died suddenly. She was the sole employee of Nadel Kunst. With her passing, the longtime Minnesota Street business was forced to close, but not until her friends and family held one last closing sale. The final closing sale occurred during New Ulm’s GnomeMade Market weekend. The goal of the sale was to sell the last remaining inventory, but also give the community a chance to say goodbye. Several of Nadel Kunst’s regular customers visited the shop in the days after her death to make a final purchase and talk about Hillesheim.

Though Nadel Kunst was primarily a knitting shop, Hillesheim often used the space to host gathers. She would clear off one of the tables in the shop and a few friends would knit together. Hillesheim was always willing to loan out her shop space for people to work on craft projects, whether it was a quilt or paintings. Nadel Kunst was also a place where fellow knitters could come to get help if they were stuck on a project. Hillesheim was well known as a “fixer.”

After the sale, all remaining materials were donated to charities. NUMAS Haus received some yarn. The Thimble Box agreed to help distribute materials to fabric-based charities. Pro Kinship for Kids also receive some knitting supplies.

Hillesheim’s friend Anne Earl said she was very active in the community and would want the inventory to be used for something good.

5.) The Highway 14 and Highland Avenue Roundabout

On Aug. 9, the roundabout at Highway 14 and Highland opened to traffic after over two months of construction. Traffic had been detoured around the major intersection since May 20 when construction began. The project took longer than expected due to heavy rains in June and July.

Before the construction of the roundabout, the Highway 14 and Highland intersection was considered one of the most hazardous uncontrolled intersections in town. In addition, the wait times for traffic traveling on Highland could be long. The creation of the roundabout greatly improved the flow of traffic through the corridor.

In addition to the roundabout the project included new lighting and sidewalk to connect with the Highland Avenue walking path. M. R. Paving & Excavating, Inc. was awarded the project with a bid of $2.26 million.

6.) Community Collage

In March New Ulm’s Downtown Action Team found a method to highlight New Ulm area residents through a new art installation. The team collaborated with photographer Josh Madson to photograph at least 400 New Ulm area citizens for a collage. Madson invited all residents to be photographed free of charge at Sweet Haven Tonics on April 28. Between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. On April 28, 432 people had their photos taken by Madson. Following the community photoshoot, Madson and the Downtown Action Team searched for a space to display the photo mural.

Ultimately it was decided to display the mural on the Center Street side of The Thimble Box Building at 2 S. Minnesota Street. The 30 feet by 10 feet community collage was installed on the brick wall by Randy Horejsi of Fuel Graphics Company on Sept. 26. The collage was in place in time for the downtown Oktoberfest celebration.

7.) 40-foot, upside down Christmas Tree

On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, a 40-foot tall Christmas tree was hung upside down at Hermann Heights Park. The tree was recently cutdown from a lot at 1600 Boettger Road. The evergreen was schedule be removed to accommodate a new house. The tree was offered to the New Ulm Chamber, who accepted it for use as a community tree.

The reason the tree was hung upside-down dates back to St. Boniface from the seventh century. During a mission to Germany, St. Boniface used the image of an upside-down tree to teach pagans about the Holy Trinity. This approach helped shift pagan worshipers from veneration of oak trees to embracing Christianity. In later centuries, families would suspend trees from the ceiling to save space and use unique ornaments. The Chamber decided to hang it upside down as a nod to New Ulm’s German heritage. The day before Thanksgiving, the tree was lit for the first time. It quickly became a popular attraction. With many people stopping to have their photo taken with the upside-down tree.

8.) New Ulm Airport receives $3.625 in federal money for infrastructure projects

In March, New Ulm learned the city had received a $2.5 million federal grant to realigned the airport’s crosswind runway. The crosswind realignment project has been on New Ulm’s radar for nearly 20 years but cost had prohibited the project. The total cost of the realignment is $3.25 million, but with federal funds covering the majority of the cost, the city could find the remaining funds to complete it.

Safety is the top reason for the realignment project. Currently, New Ulm’s airport has 94% wind coverage between it’s two runways. By moving the location of the crosswind runway and giving it an east/west alignment, the airport will have a wind coverage rate of 98%. This means aircrafts will be able to safely land at the airport under 98% of wind conditions. This is especially important for New Ulm’s airport that is heavily used by smaller fixed-wing and single-engine planes. Smaller aircraft are more susceptible to strong crosswinds. The new crosswind runway will make it easier for smaller crafts to land.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar said a Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) study showed New Ulm’s airport had a $5.6 million impact every years. Residential growth was another benefit of the project. There are several residential lots located in the current crosswind runway’s safety zone. These lots cannot be developed until the crosswind runway is moved.

Around the same time it was announced the city had received another $1.125 in federal money for the 18th Street Lift Station project. The 18th Street Lift Station project

would help automate the flood control in this area by pumping water on the city side of the levy back into the Minnesota River. This will help protect the 20th S. Street sanitary sewer. This sewer collects 95% of New Ulm’s sewage. The 18th Street Lift Station has been a longterm project for the city in now nearing completion.

9.) New Ulm helps the Minnesota Twins celebrate German Heritage Night

The Minnesota Twins hosted a special German Heritage Night on Sept. 27 at Target Field and invited New Ulm to help participate. Several hundred New Ulm residents attended the game and brought their German traditions with them.

Dain’s Dutchmen played polka music outside Gate 6 of Target Field before the game. Several of members of the Narren danced with the crowds. Bryce Boelter, dressed as Hermann the German, led the crowd in singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh inning stretch.

New Ulm native Terry Steinbach, a retired three-time major league all-star, met the New Ulm delegation before the game.

Steinbach caught a ceremonial first pitch from several people before the game including Boelter.

10.) Winter heatwave creates a nearly snowless and iceless winter

As 2024 began, there was no ice on area rivers and lakes. The previous year ended with unseasonable warm weather and rain. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conservation officers responded to many instances of fish house and recreational vehicles falling through the ice. Many people in southern Minnesota enjoyed the lack of snow. The roads remained clear for much of the holiday season. However, the ice fishing community suffered. By late January, temperatures dropped enough to hold the annual Hanska Ice Fishing tournament but a heatwave in February caused other tournaments to cancel. The Sleepy Eye Ice Fishing Tournament and New Ulm Ice Fishing Tournament could not be held safely. The ice was either too thin or non-existent. Temperatures in early February reached 50 degrees. A month later in March, Schell’s hosted one of the warmest Bockfest celebrations on record. Temperatures reached 42 in the morning and reached 60 degrees by the afternoon. Temperatures never took a cold turn.