File:1939 - 01 31 Clara Hinderer letter to Superintendent Andrews.jpg

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source:Clara Hinderer collection

January 31, 1939

Mr. W. A. Andrews

Superintendent of schools

Lake City, Minnesota

Dear Mr. Andrews:

Thank you for your letter of January 28. I appreciate your reassuring remarks and am looking forward to friendly relations with you. Although I have weathered several changes in superintendent; until I have worked with a new man two or three months, I consider myself an unknown quantity - even to myself. Certain re-adjustments are necessary, and for this reason I should like to have you go over certain routine matters with me when you take office here. I want to be a good secretary to you, and I want to take the shortcut to your “likes” and “dislikes”.

At present we figure that $200,000 to $300,000 should take care of the approximate total cost of the present new additions, alterations and equipment. We may have to add a few thousand to this sume because of additional improvements we are trying to make.

The names of board members, church affiliations and occupations are as follows:

Dr. T.F Hammermeister, President of Board, physician and surgeon, Lutheran

Mr. John Henle, Clerk of Board, Insurance, Catholic

Mr. Theodore Furth, Treasure of Board, with State Bond and Mortgage Compayny, Catholic

Mr. Victor P. Reim, Attorney at Law, Lutheran, (wife Catholic)

Mr. Ed. Stoll, Cashier, State Bank of New Ulm, Congregational

Mr. Hugo Schleuder, Optometrist and Jeweler, (don’t believe he has any church connection)

(your secretary is Lutheran)

Quite a few years back - in the very early days of New Ulm they had what they still refer to as a “school fight”. I’m under the impression that it was between the Turners and church people. I’ve lived here nearly ten years and still haven’t found anyone who can tell me more than that it was a fight. Anyway, since then there seems to be an unwritten law that there should be two Catholics, two Lutheran, and two from the rest of the population of New Um (don't know how to designate them) on the school board. To my knowledge there has never been any friction between the public and parochial schools in New Ulm.

Mr. Andreen was here Friday afternoon. He would like to rent one of his lats to you. I told him quite frankly that it would not do as there are only five rooms. I shall begin looking for something for you in April or May, and if I locate anything that I think will be suitable, I’ll give you a “buzz” so you can come to look it over.

Please do not hesitate to call on me if I can be of service in any way. I shall be glad of the opportunity to help in any way I can.

Sincerely,

Clara Baur