Newburg on the Cedar was so named for Newburg on the Hudson, New York. The founder, S.R. McKinley, who came here in the summer of 1855, had spent his early days there -- hence the name.
Newburg was located in the Southwest
quarter of section 14, with the Red Cedar river as the boundary on the east. Actually, a part of the town was platted in the southern part of section 15, with the town extending to where sections 14, 15, 22 and 23 come together. It would be located south of present day Highway 105, just as you cross the river heading northwest. 282 lots had been platted for Newburg.
Plat Map of Newburg
Click on map to get full map.The first improvement was a dam across the river, then a saw-mill. The mill was installed and then the lumber sawed for the structure itself. The lumber for nearly all the early buildings was sawed at the mill. Some of it was hauled as far as seventy miles.
To see location of McKinley Cemetery, click here . The traveling public was cared for in a little shanty 14'X 28', one story. As occasion required, this was added to until at the time the hotel was built in the fall of 1856, it had increased to seventy feet in length.
The first wagon bridge across the Cedar was completed the fall of 1857, but the spring freshets of 1858 swept it away. All of the timbers for this structure were sawed at the mill. Since
it was built almost entirely by private funds and had meant great sacrifice, its loss was a hard blow. A foot bridge was built which served for the foot passengers and teams fording the river. The old ford was just above the present bridge. Another wagon bridge was soon built but did not survive long.
Drawing of the Newburg bridge
as it appeared about 1883The first store was built in 1857 but was discontinued after a time and the building used for various purposes. At one time fanning mills were manufactured there; later it was used for the manufacture of pumps. The latter industry was carried on for a number of years by Al Holmes.
Among other enterprises begun in 1857 was the burning of charcoal to supply fuel to the blacksmith, also the burning of lime which supplied the need for miles around, going as far as Austin and Albert Lea.
The first seat of learning was located in a little log shack on the hill on the east side of the river; this was a private enterprise -- S.R. McKinley employing the teacher. The second school was held in a boarding shanty on the west side of the river with
Miss Louisa Burroughs (sister of the late Warner Burroughs). In 1858 the first school house was built, the seats and desks being made of native walnut sawed in the mill.
Here is a picture of the Newburg Inn - It states 'About 1865.' The Reverend Holbrook supplied the first preaching service in 1857. His field extended from Cedar Falls to Austin. His visits were hailed with great enthusiasm, especially by the children to whom he never failed to bring Sunday School papers and cards. At first these services were held in the McKinley Hotel, but later in the store building previously mentioned, where also the first Sunday School was organized and held. There were no cushioned pews in those days. Benches made from slabs with wooden pegs for the legs supplied the seats.
We were kept in touch with the outside world by means of the daily stage, which ran as early as 1857 between Dubuque and St. Paul. There were division points every twenty-five or thirty miles, where the horses and drivers were changed, and Newburg was one of these points.
The stage coaches were heavy and made a load even for the four horse teams they used. They carried passengers with their luggage, their capacity being six to eight persons. As they had frequent delays for men and horses, they ran both day and night. The trip one way required about three days of twenty-four hours. No hard surfaced roads then!
Freshets were very common here, in those times, as there was so little cultivated land to absorb the water. At such time the mail and passengers were brought across the river in boats, the stage coach on a scow, and the horses swam across. Such things were trifles in those days.
We will pass over the dark years of the war, when the settlers were often alarmed and almost driven from their homes by rumors of Indian uprisings which were so terrible in Minnesota, but fortunately never reached us.
An important industry was added in 1866, by Holmes and Keely, who erected a flouring mill which did a thriving business for many years. This added two new families to our population.
The year following the war, 1866, was an important one for this section. There was a large influx of new settlers at that time. Among those who located in Newburg were Messrs. Henry and Ernest Lubiens who built and operated a general store; Reinhold Helfritz, who put in a drug store, and C.C. Miller, who opened a wagon and carriage shop. These with their families made a substantial addition to the little town.
Among the important industries at this time was a Cooper shop which employed several men who were kept busy manufacturing barrels for the flouring mill. There was also a blacksmith shop, belonging to Steve Cook who later moved to St. Ansgar, which did a thriving business -- at one time there were two such shops. Newburg was a lively place in those days.
Others who came in 1866 or about that time were Messrs. George Lubiens, Herman Meyer, Adolph and Emil Kleinwort, Henry Kuehl and George Rosel. These all located in this immediate vicinity.
In this day of telephones, motor cars and electric lights, it is good to recall those early days which, in spite of many difficulties, held so many pleasant memories.
Reproduced with the approval of the Mitchell County Historical Society; from THE STORY OF MITCHELL COUNTY 1851-1973.
LOCATION: Approximately at 335th Street and Dogwood Ave. Newburg was located for the most part on the eastern portion of this intersection; but remains could also be identified in the general area.
Please respect landowners property, ask before you enter.
Transcribed in July 2002 by: Neal Du Shane
Contact information:
NEWBURG MCHS 071002
