Decade by Decade
Luxembourg American History Through the Decades
The 1990s
1990
St. Donatus, Iowa, was long known (mistakenly) on maps as a “Picturesque French Village”. A sign with these words even greeted visitors to St. Donatus. Starting in the 1980s, a movement in St. Donatus sought to reverse this misnomer. In 1990, the old sign was removed and symbolically buried and St. Donatus was finally recognized as a “Historic Luxembourg Village” as it rightfully is. New maps also bear this title.
1991
In 1991, the Luxembourg American Chamber of Commerce (LACC) was founded in New York City under the leadership of Luxembourgers Mr. Egide Thein, Consul General of Luxembourg in New York, and Mr. Fernand Lamesch, President of TradeARBED, who became the Chambers first President and CEO. The mission of LACC is to promote trade, investment and good will between the United States and Luxembourg. The LACC supports businesses, offers educational and networking opportunities and sponsors a biennial award for an outstanding American business in Luxembourg. This photo depicts the LACC’s 2013 Business Award to Airtech Advanced Materials Group.
1991
In 1991, reconstruction, renovation and restoration of the Marnach House in Whitewater State Park near Elba, Winona County, Minnesota, commenced under the leadership of Luxembourg’s Ministry of Culture – Sites & Monuments. Two central figures in the restoration of the Marnach House and other stone house projects in Wisconsin and Iowa were Luxembourgers Georges Calteux, Director of Sites and Monuments, and contractor Guy Thomas. Fundraising and promotion of the stone house projects were overseen by two new heritage organizations – Luxembourg Heritage Society of America, Inc. and Lëtzebuerger Kultur an Amerika.
August 12, 1993
Dedication and inauguration celebration for the Marnach House.
The Marnach House
Elba, Winona County, Minnesota. 2013.
1992
In 1992, reconstruction, renovation and restoration of the Sinnen Luxembourg Settler House in Ozaukee County Historical Society’s Pioneer Village, Fredonia, Wisconsin, commenced under the leadership of Luxembourg’s Ministry of Culture – Sites & Monuments. Two central figures in the restoration of the Sinnen House were Luxembourgers Georges Calteux and Guy Thomas. Fundraising and promotion of the Sinnen House were overseen by two new heritage organizations - Luxembourg Heritage Society of America, Inc. and Lëtzebuerger Kultur an Amerika.
1992
Stone masons from Luxembourg and volunteers from Ozaukee County’s Luxembourg community worked side by side to rebuild the Sinnen House.
August 14, 1993
Dedication and inauguration celebration for the Sinnen House on August 14, 1993. Depicted are heritage leaders from Luxembourg and the United States.
1993
In 1993, the Luxembourg Heritage Society of America presented the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota with a collection of over 270 books, periodicals and maps related to Luxembourg. The Department of Special Collections in the O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library was chosen as the recipient of this collection. The collection was purchased by the Society from Dr. Julian Plante who was of Luxembourg descent. Maria Bach Dunn, born in Luxembourg and the wife of James Taylor Dunn, former head of the Minnesota Historical Society Library, donated the funds to purchase the collection. In 1994, Bach and Dunn gifted an additional 200 items of Luxembourgensia to the library. The collection is named the Bach-Dunn Collection of Luxembourgensia.
1994
In 1994, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Luxembourg by American troops during World War II, the Grand Duchy sent three copies of the Liberty Road monument to be placed in Luxemburg, Minnesota; Luxemburg, Wisconsin; and Luxemburg, Iowa. This photo depicts the Liberty Road monument placed in Luxemburg, Minnesota. St. Wendelin’s Catholic Church in Luxemburg is in the background.
1997
The Gehlen House in St. Donatus, Iowa, was build by the founder of St. Donatus, Peter Gehlen, an immigrant from Olm, Luxembourg. The Gehlen House housed numerous families over the years and before its 1997 restoration was a doll museum. The Gehlen House is one of numerous stone houses in St. Donatus that reflect 18th Century Luxembourgian architecture.
1997
In the summer of 1997, restoration work began on the Gehlen House under the guidance of Luxembourg’s Ministry of Culture – Sites and Monuments. Again, the central figures in the restoration were Luxembourg’s Georges Calteux, Director of Sites and Monuments, and contractor Guy Thomas. Local residents also assisted with the restoration.
The Gehlen House
The Gehlen House is privately owned and operated and is now The Gehlen House Bed and Breakfast. The interior features Luxembourg décor and rooms are named after some of Luxembourg’s famed castles.