On May 23, 1866, 42 German families consisting of 126 people boarded their oxen-driven wagons and headed south, leaving the home in Wisconsin behind them. Their wagons, made up the mile-long caravan that traveled the 612-mile journey in 52 days. Each family brought along enough supplies to keep them for the winter, including two cows and a few sheep, which were driven along by the women folk.
They traveled a series of paths and roads that took them to Dubuque, Des Moines and to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and into what was then Nebraska Territory. From there, they headed north to West Point. After resting a few days near West Point, the contingent continued its journey, stopping long enough to build a bridge across the Humbug Creek, west of what is now the town of Pilger. Although this bridge went out the next spring, it served its purpose in sending the settlers on to the spot they had chosen along the banks of the North Fork River for their new home.
They reached their destination on July 17, 1866. There they found five men who had also recognized the valley’s potential and had staked their claims. Not wanting to stay with so many Germans, these young men disposed on their claims and moved on. Using a pocket compass, the settlers drew boundary lines for the claims and then drew lots to determine who would get which claim. In time, more settlers arrived as did a retired U.S. Army Colonel who built a grist mill. It was around this mill that the town of Norfolk emerged. Business people soon recognized the value of the area and opened stores and harness shops, brick yards and sugar factories. The citizens founded a government, established laws and created the entities needed to maintain civic life.
Now, 150 years later, Norfolk is the agricultural, industrial and commercial center of Northeast Nebraska. That group of 126 people that settled the area has grown to more than 25,000. While many people with ties to Europe live here, Norfolkans hail from all parts of the world. They came for the same reason as those first settlers – freedom and the desire to build a better life for themselves and their families.
2016 marks the 150th Anniversary of Norfolk's founding. The celebration continues though the end of the year! We will be placing 16 geocaches at historic locations around Norfolk. You are invited to come "Uncover Norfolk's Past . . . One Cache At A Time". Each cache will contain a specific punch. Cachers will punch their game cards at each location. Game cards will be available at this event and at the Norfolk Visitor's Bureau. When you have completed the trail and filled your card, you can turn it in for a commemorative Norfolk 150 Geocoin (while supplies last)!
In addition to the coin, any cacher to complete the trail prior to September 23rd, 2016 will be entered into a drawing for a brand new 50" flatscreen TV to be given away at Norfolk's Oktoberfest celebration on September 24th!! You need not be present to win the TV and no purchase is necessary. The Norfolk 150 Trail will be open through DECEMBER 31st, 2016!
Come and join us at Skyview Park on Saturday, July 30th, 2016 from 9:00-9:30 am to kick off the new trail! Event attendees will get a head start on the fun! We will hand out game cards and load the new caches into your GPSr. Then, feel free to stick around to chat with friends and enjoy donuts and drinks, or head out on the trail!
