It has been recorded that the town of New Haven was founded in 1878, and that in 1883, it contained a store, a blacksmith shop, the Catholic Church and the post office.
Prior to this, however, and after the Civil War, while the vicinity of New Haven was still a prairie, Casper Toelle started a place of business on the north side of what is now Main Street towards the east end. The accompanying picture shows the buildings and the road which is now the street. The two story building to the right, still stands and is used by the nearby hardware store, for storage. Mr. Toelle used the second floor for a public dance hall, part of the first floor was used as a hardware store and the remaining part as a harness shop.
The building in the left foreground was the blacksmith shop. The building immediately back of it, with the grain sacks in the doorway, was a feed mill. The power used to operate the mill was an old time "horse power". [Click here to see original newspaper image. (95 Kb) ]
In the shed back of the feed mill, wagon boxes, hayracks and wooden tanks were made. A general machinery repair shop was maintained. Mr. Toelle also sold machinery for Fred Schulte of Mitchell,
Iowa. The nearest post office was at Holbrook's Tavern. Later, the blacksmith shop was struck by lightening and burned. Today the home of Pearl Green occupies this spot.
The stage line from Charles City and Stillwell stopped at New Haven, then north by way of present number 9 and then east to Holbrook's Tavern.
The ultimate location of New Haven in its present spot can be attributed to a rivalry between two factional settlements. To the south of present New Haven was a German settlement, mentioned by Ann Holbrook Sweney in her story of Pioneer Days. To the north was located a settlement of Irish pioneers. Both of these settlements
were of the Catholic faith, and each wanted a church built in their midst. It was agreed that whichever settlement raised the most money the soonest, would get the church. The German settlement won, and the present New Haven was the site chosen for the church, which then in reality started the town.
The church and the school have always been the center of activity and development in New Haven.
History has it that originally New Haven was known as Hell's Town. In the early days there were two saloons, and much fighting was the result of perhaps too much imbibing along with the differences between the two principal nationalities, the Irish and the Germans. Because of the brawling the village became known as Hell's Town. Finally both saloons were closed as an outcome of the disturbances. When peace came to the community, the residents came to call their village New Heaven which was eventually changed to New Haven - a haven meaning a place of rest.
At present the following places of business operate in New Haven:
Hardware
Norman (Bud) Leinenkugel
Groceries and Feed
Melvin Meyer and H. L. Weber
Garage
Bob Mork
Tavern
Johnny Miles
Trucking
Condon Brothers
Livestock
James McCarthy
Poultry
Bob Slaughter, Jr., Clem Loscher,
Dean MichaelsRepair Shop
Donald Torgerson
Additional Photographs of New Haven
Reproduced with the approval of the Mitchell County Historical Society; from THE STORY OF MITCHELL COUNTY 1851 - 1973, and MITCHELL COUNTY MEMORIES 1946 - 1996.
LOCATION: Approximately halfway between Highway 9 and Underwood Avenue on 360th St.
Please respect landowners property, ask before you enter.
Transcribed in July 2002 by: Neal Du Shane
Contact information:
NEW HAVEN 071602 MCHS.doc
