Public education in New Leipzig began in the fall of 1910, with school
being held in different locations around town. Throughout the years of
this school district, many milestones and memories have taken place.The name Leipzig dates back to early 1015 in Germany. The Slavic word means “a settlement by the lime trees.” In 1813, the German Kaiser wanted to establish German colonies in Bessarabia. Many immigrants from Eastern Europe moved onward and settled in the colonies that were established. 15 families of Leipzigers came by trains to the colony of Leipzig, settling there in 1843. The one problem for the settlers was that they were too far from the railroads. So in 1910, when the Northern Pacific Railroad was constructed 11 miles southwest of Leipzig, the German-Russians moved down to the railroad and established there the settlement that was to become New Leipzig.
By 1910, Northern Pacific and the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad companies had built two railroad lines westward from Mandan, ND and McLaughlin, SD, respectively. In May, 1910, a town site was plotted by the Milwaukee Land Company of Chicago. The German-Russian residents of nearby Leipzig, wanting a location closer to the railroad, soon relocated there. When a post office was established on the site, the budding community was dubbed New Leipzig. In January, 1912, however, New Leipzig was renamed Lawther after a local landowner. After much protest by local residents wanting to preserve the name of their homeland, the town was once again officially New Leipzig, ND.
Hertz Brothers Hardware is believed to be the oldest firm still doing business in Grant County. It was organized in Leipzig as the Farmers Commerce Company by Hertz Brother stockholders Christ, Henry, and Emmanuel Hertz as well as other minor stockholders. The enterprise moved to New Leipzig around the time of its inception and became Hertz Brothers Hardware in 1912. Today, the business is under a third generation of management. Roehl Trucking is also a third-generation business, and Stelter Repair is under its fourth generation of management. Main Street today is almost entirely made of farm-related service businesses. Businesses currently servicing the area include Tietz Hardware, Larry's Service Center, Stern Motors, Randy's Sales and Service, Stelter Repair, Roehl Transfer Inc., Schock Real Estate, B & L Lounge, Star Grocery, Hertz Brother's Inc., the U.S. Postal Service, New Leipzig Grain, and Dakota Community Bank.
The community's spiritual needs are provided by the New Leipzig Churches—St. John's Catholic, Immanuel Lutheran, New Leipzig Baptist, and the Reformed Church—as well as several rural churches. Both the New Leipzig Baptist and Immanuel Lutheran will celebrate their 100th Anniversary in 2010.
New Leipzig has provided its educational needs with a school since the town's beginning. Classes were first held in rooms furnished by various local businesses until 1912, when the first school house was built. In February, 1915, the structure was leveled by fire. In 1915, a brick fire-proof structure was erected. Additions were made to the original brick structure in 1926, 1957, and 1961 due to the annexation of the surrounding school districts. Educational needs were provided within New Leipzig until the co-op process began with Elgin in the 1994–95 school year. Throughout subsequent years, more grades became involved. New Leipzig School closed in the fall of 2004, after which students have been attending lower elementary and high school in nearby Elgin; junior high students are bussed to Carson. The New Leipzig school facility is now used by the community only during Oktoberfest weekend.
Throughout its years, the community of New Leipzig has met the needs of its people. The New Leipzig Development Association organized in 1966, providing housing for elderly and low-income residents in the form of 18 one- or two-bedroom apartments, which are usually fully occupied with a waiting list.
In 1971, New Leipzig was home to North Dakota's first authentic German Oktoberfest, a three-day festival that has grown through the years with the continued support and efforts of rural and city New Leipzig residents. Oktoberfest has become New Leipzig's primary identity for German heritage and a time for thanks at the close of the harvest season. Since 1978, a particular highlight of the weekend has become the Oktoberfest musical, performed by residents from in and around New Leipzig.
New Leipzig, like all rural communities, continues to strive to become a true “home” for its residents and to provide as many services as possible. Unfortunately, many rural areas like New Leipzig, after giving the youth a solid moral upbringing and a well-balanced education, they leave for college and faraway jobs.
The people of New Leipzig have realized that there are boom periods of growth in local business that eventually decay, eventually leaving a community of retired people, still providing service to those people remaining. The state-wide decline in population sees the closing of many businesses and schools, as it has in New Leipzig.
Above all odds, however, the local community must fight on.
Public education in New Leipzig began in the fall of 1910, with school
being held in different locations around town. Throughout the years of
this school district, many milestones and memories have taken place.
Officially, the first schoolhouse was a wooden two-story structure built in 1912. Unfortunately, due to a faulty chimney, fire destroyed the structure, which served as a school for only two years. The district was again without a school, and classes had to be held in different locations around town.
By 1915, another milestone was reached—a modern brick and fire-proof building was erected with three departments added—primary, grammar, and a two-year high school. The first New Leipzig Public grammar school graduation took place in 1916. 1918 brought big policy change in consolidation with the Weller School District.
In 1922, another milestone of the New Leipzig School took place—a four-year high school program was added. Two years later, Lillian Behrenfeld, Alma Flaig, Herbert Hertz, Victor Provolt, Kathryn Haisch, and Bernice Mack became the school's first graduating class.
The next milestone for the New Leipzig Public School came as an addition on the east side of the brick school, which included an auditorium, classrooms, and a gymnasium. In 1957, another milestone brought a $100,000 building project to the New Leipzig Public School, including a new gymnasium.
The milestones continued throughout the next few years. 1958 brought the annexation of Delabarre and Lorin Districts. In a special election the next year, all of Leipzig District and parts of Selma and Fleak districts were added, together encompassing the Weller School District.
The next milestone came in 1961, when a new high school addition and new classes became part of a new well-rounded curriculum for New Leipzig School graduates.
With milestones come changes in our lives, including those we enjoy, but also those we do not want to accept. Be that as it may, changes inevitably come before our eyes. Changes in the New Leipzig Public School have been many throughout its eighty-year history.
Starting in 1994–95, many high school classes were tought by bussing students back and forth for classes in New Leipzig and Elgin. 1995 also brought the first combined New Leipzig/Elgin graduating class in a ceremony at Elgin. In 1997, New Leipzig's grades K–1 were in co-op with Elgin's; grade 2 followed in 1997, and grades 3 and 4 combined in 1998. Over the next six years, the New Leipzig Public School facility was used as a combined New Leipzig/Elgin Jr. High.
The New Leipzig Public School officially closed its doors to education in the fall of 2004. Today, students in and around New Leipzig attend school in the towns of Elgin or Carson in a new educational set-up in Grant County: lower elementary and senior high students are schooled in Elgin, while grades 5–8 are educated in Carson. Students graduate from the Grand County School system in Elgin.
Memories and milestones of the New Leipzig Public School are many. Fond memories of the many school activities, such as choir, band, sports, drama, speech, and graduation, will remain with each and every student who ever walked through the doors of school, be it for all twelve years or even a shorter time.
Education has always been a very important part of a person's life. One just needs to look at what education has done to bring him where it has today. New Leipzig is proud of all the accomplishments that New Leipzig students have made for themselves and the community
© 2010 The City of New Leipzig, ND. All rights reserved.