Somsen Reunion 2012

New Ulm,  Minnesota  USA

August  4 and 5,  2012

 

You are cordially invited to the 4th World Wide Somsen Family Reunion

on August 4th and 5th, 2012 in New Ulm, Minnesota, USA.

 

Saturday August 4th, 2012: Turner Hall in New Ulm

Registration, Morning Coffee Welcome Program, Somsen Trivia Game,

Light Lunch followed by afternoon tour of downtown New Ulm.

Evening program at Turner Hall includes dinner and entertainment.

 

Sunday August 5th, 2012:  

Morning fellowship at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church

Afternoon Tour of Schell’s Brewery

Evening dinner, program and entertainment at New Ulm Country Club

 

Things to do in New Ulm:

Mark your spot on the world map at the New Ulm Visitor Center.

See the Somsen related sites in and near New Ulm.

Share your stories and get to know other members of the Somsen family.

 

An informal Somsen get-together will be held at Hermann Heights Park on the evening of Friday, August 3rd, for those who arrive early. We have a

picnic shelter reserved at this park with a great view of New Ulm.

 

There are optional activities in or near New Ulm on Monday, August 6th.

 

Somsen related sites in New Ulm:

  • Somsen Law Office
  • New Ulm Library
  • Citizen’s Bank
  • Governor Lind Home
  • Kiesling House
  • Somsen Street
  • Somsen Slough
  • New Ulm Country Club

 

Somsen related sites within driving distance from New Ulm:

Lime Springs, Iowa (Gerrit Somsen ran a general store in Lime Springs)

Winona, Minnesota (Somsen Hall is named after Gerrit’s 2nd son)

 

Please feel free to contact Stephen Somsen, reunion chairman, with any questions you have about registration, the reunion program, or New Ulm.

 

Phone: 562-430-0079     Cell:  425-879-8592     email:  ssomsen@aol.com

 

Getting to New Ulm, Minnesota:

There are three daily non-stop flights from Amsterdam (AMS) to

Minneapolis, Minnesota (MSP) Orbitz.com will list many direct or non-stop flights from other major airports worldwide and in the USA to Minneapolis.

 

Another travel option from Europe is the Queen Mary 2 from Southampton to New York combined with Amtrak train travel from New York to Minneapolis.

 

Car rental is readily available in Minneapolis for the easy 90 mile

(144 km) drive to New Ulm. Hertz, National and Avis all offer good value.

 

Lodging will be available:

Holiday Inn New Ulm     507-359-2941  ask for Somsen Reunion rate

Microtel New Ulm        507-354-9800  ask for Somsen Reunion rate

 

Camping will be available:

Flandrau State Park     866-857-2757  see website below

 

New Ulm, Minnesota is 90 miles southwest of Minneapolis and has a population of about 14,000 people. It is a charming community where the

Cottonwood River meets the Minnesota River.

 

Websites to give you more information about New Ulm, Minnesota:

 

Turner Hall

http://www.newulmturnerhall.org/

 

New Ulm Country Club

http://golfnewulm.com/

 

Flandrau State Park

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/flandrau/index.html

 

New Ulm Attractions

http://www.newulm.com/visitors-community/attractions/

 

New Ulm Map

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=New%20Ulm&state=MN

 

The 1851 branch of the Somsen family connection to New Ulm, Minnesota:

Gerrit Somsen (P-750) left Aalten in July 1851 at age 9 to journey to the USA with his parents Hendrik (P-577) and Johanna (P-578), and his siblings; Jan (P-749), Elisabeth (P-751), and Arent (P-753). His brother, Henry (P-755), was born in February of 1852 in Wisconsin. Gerrit Somsen lived at different times in Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. His son, Henry Somsen Sr (P-2453); grandson, Henry Somsen Jr (P-2456); and great-grandson, Stephen D. Somsen (P-2459) were all born in or near New Ulm.

Henry Somsen, Sr. and Henry Somsen Jr. practiced law in New Ulm.