Germans bring greetings to Minden

by Kurt Hildebrand

Herausgeber

Try as they might, Minden residents have been unable to limit their 100th birthday celebration to a single day.

The celebration is Sunday, but on Thursday, Germans Horst and Jörg Schumacher brought congratulations from Minden/Westfalen Mayor Michael Buhre in recognition of the town's celebration to town board members and members of the Minden Centennial Committee.

More than a dozen Minden residents watched as Town Board Chairman Ross Chichester presented a book and a silver medallion to the father and son.

Horst Schumacher was born in Minden, Germany, in 1940, but left when he finished school.

He lived most of his life in Bremen, 70 miles away from the Dangbergs' hometown.

Schumacher said he arrived in Minden by chance. His son is attending flight school in Phoenix for the German Air Force. School let out in June and the two decided to tour the West, driving up through southern Utah and across Nevada to arrive in Minden on Wednesday.

"My son is not a Minden guy, but he has Minden blood in him," he said.

"It is so nice to see people who live somewhere else," he said in making his presentation to Chichester. He handed Minden Town Office Manager Sheila Byington several publications dealing with Minden and showed the Minden newspaper.

Board member Bob Hadfield described his trip to Minden.

U.S. Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada published a statement in the Congressional Record to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Minden's formal establishment, which is this Sunday.

"This small town - which got its first traffic light in 1985 - has managed to move itself into the 21st century, without losing its historic charm. Every June, thousands of Nevadans travel from all over to take part in the Carson Valley Days. Co-hosted by Minden and Gardnerville, Carson Valley Days is an annual event with a parade, carnival, live music, truck pull, and arts and crafts. This historic event was started in 1910 by H.F. Dangberg Jr., and it is now in its 96th year.

"Mr. President, I'm proud to have a town like Minden in my home state, and I congratulate the people of Minden on their 100th anniversary. I encourage all my colleagues in the Senate and all the people of this great country to experience this beautiful and historic part of Nevada."

DETAILS

The streets on the perimeter of Minden Park will be closed to traffic on Sunday. Parking is available at the old Minden Flour Mill at Highway 395 and Buckeye Road and at the Judicial & Law Enforcement Center.

The Minden Centennial Celebration takes place July 2 on Esmeralda Avenue and at Minden Park from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Along with all the activities in the town park there will be guided historic walking tours of the downtown area. In the CVIC Hall visitors will be able to view oral history videos from some of the town's natives and long-time residents.

Limited edition Minden Centennial medallions, Town of Minden hats and memory books will be for sale.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

n 11 a.m. children's parade/presentation of flag by Rep. Jim Gibbons

n 11:10 a.m. introduction of the town board and welcome

n 11:15 a.m. H.F. Dangberg Chautauqua by Michael Fischer

n 11:30 a.m. town proclamation

n 11:40 a.m. children's games and music of the period

n 12 p.m. complimentary lunch

n 1:30 p.m. Carson Valley Pops Orchestra concert

n 3 p.m. ice cream social

Information: Town of Minden, 782-5976

ON THE WEB

Town of Minden

www.townofminden.com