Watertown & Mayer
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2025
German and Swiss heritage arrives
The Mayer community has been rising since 1856 when an influx of German and Swiss immigrants settled in the area.
Fortunately, the soil was ideal for farming and the area soon earned a reputation as being one of the best places to farm in the entire state.
The founding of Mayer can be traced back to the townsite of Helvetia, which was founded by Swiss immigrant John Buhler. It was located about one mile north of the current city of Mayer. The first settler of what was to become the Mayer townsite was Fred Haueter Sr., who arrived in 1857.
The name of Helvetia Township was changed to Hollywood Township in 1860. Hollywood was chosen on the erroneous belief that there was an abundance of holly bushes growing in the area.
Citizens celebrated the arrival of a steam sawmill in 1869. Pioneer life was challenging, as sickness, epidemics and fear of Native Americans were constant hardships. The arrival of the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad( later the Great Northern Railroad) in 1886 led to the creation of the Mayer townsite.
This was necessary because citizens were unable to convince the railroad to pass through Helvetia so a new settlement was created one mile south to access the tracks. Christian and Wilhelmine Haueter platted the townsite and chose the name Mayer for a roadmaster of the Great Northern Railroad.
City government began in Mayer in 1900, as did operation of the Mayer Fire Department. Mayer’ s first city hall was constructed in 1901 and the building was enlarged in 1954. In the 1970s, the hall was remodeled and redecorated. In 1984, citizens approved the purchase of the Mayer Public Schools facilities to be used a new city hall and community center.
Over the last century, Mayer has seen many changes. It once had a number of public schools but those left when the district consolidated with Watertown Public Schools in 1971. Today, Mayer Lutheran School, which opened in 1961, and Zion Lutheran School, established in 1912, are still going strong.
Currently, Mayer remains a rising community both in residential and commercial growth, and its proximity to the Twin Cities allows its residents to enjoy small-town living while still being close to“ the big city.”
Community Guide 2025 | WATERTOWN & MAYER | 31