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Thursday, 12 June 2008 |
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 Staff photos/Mary Bargdill
Above, a cake sits on a table in honor of New Bremen’s 175th birthday Wednesday night. At right, former New Bremen Mayors Lloyd Laut , left, and Richard Wiedeman listen to speakers during the event.
By MARY BARGDILL
Staff Writer
NEW BREMEN — With cake and balloons, New Bremen residents celebrated a birthday that only comes around once in a lifetime — 175th.
Village officials honored the occasion by holding a council meeting outside along the east side of the canal in Lock One Park Wednesday evening.
“The year 2008 marks the 175th anniversary of our town,” Mayor Jeff Pape said. “I do hereby declare 2008 as the Quartoseptoentennial this 11th day of June 2008. Congratulations New Bremen.”
Former New Bremen mayors Lloyd Laut, 105, who served from 1956 to 1961, and Richard Wiedeman, 90, who served three terms from 1972 to 1983, also were in attendance.
Wiedeman was mayor when the village celebrated its sesquicentennial in 1983. His term was “the longest that a mayor has gone in New Bremen,” Pape said.
Wiedeman reflected on past events in the village of New Bremen, including when residents had prepared for the 150th anniversary by learning how to sing songs in German. The village also had a parade of homes.
During the proclamation, Pape noted the village’s heritage.
“From our Bavarian and Hanovarion ancestry that ventured to America in 1832 and the 33 members of a group formed in Cincinnati that bought the original 10 acres and divided the land into 102 lots, one for each member and the rest offered for sale at $25 per lot,” Pape said. “Their planning, leadership and guidance has carried forward through the years and enabled New Bremen to be the great village that it is today.”
Councilor and New Bremen Historical Association Curator Delores Stienecker delivered some historical facts about the village. New Bremen was platted in 1833 and built around the pork packing industry. During one month’s time in 1831, 1.8 million pounds of bacon, 12,000 barrels of pork, 18 kegs of lard and 50,000 barrels of whiskey floated down the Miami and Erie Canal through the village.
By 1845, no fewer than 26 pork packing houses filled the village of New Bremen. The first business in town was the Kuenning General Store.
“The pioneering spirit of our ancestors is evident,” Stienecker said.
Tom Fledderjohann gave a brief history on the Miami and Erie Canal and the impact it had on the village of New Bremen.
“For many other families, the canal furnished their livelihoods,” he said.
During the meeting, councilors also approved:
• A second reading of a resolution regarding the Ohio Department of Transportation resurfacing project of Ohio 66 south of the village.
• Assessments for curb and gutter on North Franklin and Monroe streets.
• Amending an ordinance for the New Bremen Library monthly rental adjustment to be reviewed yearly.
• Decided to keep a 2003 Ford Victoria police cruiser as opposed to selling it for $258. “It’s worth more than that as scrap,” York said.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 June 2008 )
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