Did you know that our town was once split into two different villages?
In 1881 the north side of Benton Lake was incorporated as the Village of Benton, it had a population of 100 and several different business. The Village of Cologne was the property south and was incorporated in 1881 as well. Ten years later, April 14th, 1891 the the two Villages merged keeping the name Village of Cologne, many of the physical buildings and businesses were moved into the south side of the lake.
Did you know that our railroad was built in Carver County in 1872? It formed a connection between Glencoe and Minneapolis, which was the main line of the Hastings and Dakota Railroad.
Cologne’s first railroad depot was built south of the tracks in 1872 which was called “Benton Junction in Dahlgren Township” (because Cologne hadn’t became a village until 1881). In 1908 the 2 large water wells and tanks were built just south of the Depot near the mill, the coal bins were located a few hundred feet from there. These trains carried passengers and freight. The mighty train ran through Cologne every other Tuesday. In 1977 after the last station agent (Tom Fasching) left Cologne the work was transferred to Glencoe, many of the buildings were dismantled.
Did you know that the Cologne Fire Department was organized December 13, 1890?
In 1896 Village Ordinance #9 compelled ALL male citizens under the age of 50 and over the age of 21 must join the Village Fire Department. Any person described who does not join shall work a poll tax of 2 days or pay to the village treasury the sum of 2 dollars. In 1926 the Village purchased its first motorized fire truck, a 1921 LaFrance Pumper. The department still owns this truck today! The Fire Department is in the stages of having this piece of history refurbished back to it’s original condition.
Did you know the State Bank of Cologne was founded February 11, 1903? A new building was erected for this bank, starting with 18 stockholders. This building is located on the corner of Playhouse St. east and Hwy 284 (Paul Ave) downtown. In 1926 C.H. Klein acquired controlling share of the bank, later in years naming it Klein Bank. In 1963 a new building was built for the bank, the open house was held December 19, 1963. This is the current location for Old National Bank. In 2018 Old National Bank bought the 18 remaining Klein Bank sites, a year later they closed and reopened those sites under their name of Old National Bank. 
Did you know the Cologne’s first baseball team was founded in 1898? The team’s name was the Cologne Chronicles. The Chronicle’s were named after the town newspaper Cologne Chronicle. The games were held at the Mill Park. In 1914 Cologne’s baseball team was known as the Silver Leafs, obviously sponsored by the Cologne Mill. (Silver Leaf Feed) In the 1950’s the team was between sponsors. One afternoon playing in Chaska, local KSMM 1530AM radio announcer Ray Tschimperle asked for the team’s mascot name, Cologne’s manager declared they didn’t have one at the time, referring to us as “Cologne baseball”. Ray at that point gave us one….the Hollanders. A Hollander is a Dutch term for “people of the Netherlands” specifically variants of German origin. In 1968 the baseball park at it’s current location in City Square Park was remodeled, a new grandstand, dugouts and field work. A large part of this work was done by team manager and local businessman (Bob) Robert Fritz Sr. and his 3 sons. In May of 1997 Robert passed away, and the organization named the baseball field the Robert G. Fritz Memorial Field (aka Fritz Field), in Robert’s honor. 
Did you know that the Cologne Lions Club originated February 14th 1974? You may ask yourself what is a Lions Club or what does it mean to be a member? A Lions Club is an international non-political service organization, that was established in Chicago Illinois 1917. Today there are over 48,000 chapters, topping 1.4 million members. The Cologne Lions are a nonprofit group of volunteers that serve this community and meet humanitarian needs. This group is extremely beneficial to our community.
There are so many things that go unnoticed that the Lions do, for instance the the American Flags and Cologne banners that line the streets in the summer, Glad days celebration, National Night Out, Christmas in the Park night, to the Christmas lights that we enjoy down town are only a few on the list that the Lions do for our community. Behind the scenes are also a major part of what the organization does as well.
The fundraising money that they raise, is mostly donated back into city projects, Fire Department projects/equipment, numerous foundations, benefits and scholarships are just a place to start. The volunteering hours are endless, working the gates at the great Carver County Fair to cleaning up after severe weather, and many hours of community projects, If a need or helping hand is needed you can be assured the Lions will be there.
The Cologne Lions also have a Leo’s group which is a group of 12-18 year old’s that also volunteer their time and efforts. This group of young adults will be seen around with the Lions Club doing events and service, aspiring to become a Lion. You will see them helping with Glad Days, Easter & Halloween events and Reading in the Park with the children in the summer, to mention a few.
Thank you Cologne Lions Club for your generosity and timeless efforts in helping make Cologne what it is today for the past 50+ years. We wish them many more years of success.
Did you know that the City of Cologne had it’s own Police Department? Here are a set of door hangers believed to be dated to the 1950’s owned by the grandson of the officer in town at the time, Edward Schepers Sr.
The Cologne Milling Company is the oldest business in Cologne, it was founded by George Guettler a farmer in Dahlgren township, along with partner railway station agent Gerhard Bongard in 1881. Years later, Bongard, sold his interest to Guettler. When Guettler passed away the business was run by his 3 sons until 1925. The mill continued to be handed down to generations of the Guettler family for many decades. During this time the family had run additional feed mills such as the Hamburg Clark feed mill in 1960, and in 1975 Green Isle Grain and Feed Center. In 1885 the Cologne Mill had capacity of producing 130 sacks a day, which was very impressive. In 1917 the addition of electricity was introduced to the mill to greatly help with its operation. 1925 the mill began grinding animal feed and farm grains which proved to be quite profitable. 1933 a 40,000 bushel elevator was be added. 1943 the mill had its first devastating fire rebuilt and produced Silver Leaf Flour, it was common that the mill shipped 5 rail cars a week. In 1948 after WWII flour purchases were cut nearly in half and the mill flour production was to be shut down permanently. In 1974 the original flour mill which had been converted into storage along with the office, grain elevator and feed mill was all destroyed by fire. The fire burned for several days, fire departments from many miles away came and worked in shifts battling the blaze. April 1975 construction of the new feed plant began, this time to be made with concrete and Steel. In 1976 Silver Leaf Feeds produced feed for calves, dairy cows, beef and hogs in its newly rebuilt plant. The plant brought feed manufacturers from several states and countries including Scotland, Germany and Venezuela to tour and observe this new outstanding operation. After 112 years of operation the legacy came to an end for the Guettler family. In 1993 the business was sold to the Waconia Farm Supply. WFS had kept the mill and its patrons running with its production for the following 20 years. The mill was then sold to United Farmers Cooperative (UFC) based out of George Iowa. UFC continues to keep the mill in full operation with a few current additions.