New Ulm HALL OF FAME Member

Fred Johnson

Non-Player (Special Support)

Selected 2002

            Fred W. Johnson has among his accolades the title of “Father of New Ulm’s park system".

            Perhaps the most notable recognition of Fred W. Johnson is the fact that Johnson Park (the baseball field) and Johnson Field (the adjacent football field on North German Street) were named in his honor.

            Johnson was born in 1870 in St. Peter and moved to New Ulm in 1889, where at age 19 he edited the New Ulm Review, a weekly newspaper. He later became a part owner of that newspaper.

            A review of his records shows that Johnson was a mover and shaker in many New Ulm activities. In order to validate his induction into the New Ulm Baseball Hall of Fame, it is noted Johnson was very instrumental in the construction of the baseball and football fields. This contribution started in 1929 at the annual meeting of the New Ulm Park Association when Johnson, then president, outlined plans to develop a park system from Third to Seventh North on German.

            In 1930, he presented plans and specifications prepared by a local landscaper for development of that land. He also put his money where his mouth was: he contributed $1,317 for the cost of grading of the land for the athletic fields. In 2002 dollars, that represents a sizeable investment.

            The football field was constructed first. In late 1935, work began on the baseball park. The federal government contributed $10,000 as a WPA (Works Progress Administration) project. The city chipped in $4,000, and there were private donations as well. It took three years to complete the project, and the first baseball game at Johnson Park was played in 1939.

            Besides the baseball-football complex, Johnson was involved in many other local projects. He managed the Turner Hall theater for about 15 years. He was president of the Brown County Historical Society, and he played an important part in the construction of the library and museum building at 27 N. Broadway.

            Johnson also was involved in the historical Dacotah Hotel. In 1893, he marred Emma Seiter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Seiter, whose father founded the hotel. When Mrs. Seiter died in 1906, Fred and Emma took over management of the hotel. Later, sons Russell and Norman managed the hotel.

            Fred Johnson died in 1947 at age 77.