John Nielson

1906 - 1970  (64 years)

• Name	John Nielson
  Born	30 Jan 1906	Denmark
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	1953	New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	baker
  		NewHamburg-Kids_with_Nith_River_Monster___Gallery.jpg It's been 63 years since the so-called Nith River Monster shocked and delighted New Hamburg residents in the summer 1953 but John Neilson and many other locals still remember the excitement of 1953. A handful of boys are pictured here with a crocodile made of dough by local baker John Nielson, Sr., a baker who worked in downtown New Hamburg at the time. As the town enjoyed the tale of this so-called monster, the elder Nielson decided to get in on the fun by baking up a crocodile, painting it, then placing it on a small island in the middle of the Nith near the Harman Bridge downtown, remembered his son John when he brought this photo to the Independent last week. The edible reptile was part of a busy summer that saw Tuffy Truesdell, the self-proclaimed “world’s greatest alligator wrestler,” arrive in New Hamburg to help search for the Nith River Monster. Tuffy brought his very own alligator, and local kids also got to get close and even pick up an alligator that had its mouth tied shut, Nielson remembered. Pictures here, from left, are Ken Richler, Howard Reibling, John Nielson, Jim Cockerton, Bob Ruthig and Craig Thomas, who is the son of George Thomas, New Hamburg's long-time police chief who has long been suspected in creating the monster hoax that put New Hamburg in headlines across Canada.
  Residence	1970	217 Shade St., New Hamburg, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-182991
  Died	1 Feb 1970	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I182991	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Family	Mary Flannigan,   b. CA 1915,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Children	1. John Nielson
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F55335	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  New Hamburg Independent It's been 63 years since the so-called Nith River Monster shocked and delighted New Hamburg residents in the summer but John Neilson and many other locals still remember the excitement of 1953. A handful of boys are pictured here with a crocodile made of dough by local baker John Nielson, Sr., a baker who worked in downtown New Hamburg at the time. As the town enjoyed the tale of this so-called monster, the elder Nielson decided to get in on the fun by baking up a crocodile, painting it, then placing it on a small island in the middle of the Nith near the Harman Bridge downtown, remembered his son John when he brought this photo to the Independent in October. The edible reptile was part of a busy summer that saw Tuffy Truesdell, the self-proclaimed "world's greatest alligator wrestler," arrive in New Hamburg to help search for the Nith River Monster. Tuffy brought his very own alligator, and local kids also got to get close and even pick up an alligator that had its mouth tied shut, Nielson remembered. Remember the Nith River monster?. (2016). Newhamburgindependent.ca. Retrieved 6 November 2016, from https://www.newhamburgindependent.ca/news-story/6940998-remember-the-nith-river-monster-/ _______________________________ John Nielson John Nielson, 217 Shade St., New Hamburg, died Sunday at St. Mary's Hospital after a brief illness. He was 62. Born Jan. 30, 1906, in Denmark, he had resided in New Hamburg for 22 years. He was a baker by trade and worked for a number of local bakeries He was a member of Holy Family RC Church and a member of the New Hamburg branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. He is survived by his wife, the former Mary Flannigan; one son, John, Stratford; and several brothers and sisters in Denmark. A legion service was conducted last night at the funeral home; however, funeral arrangements were not finalized at press time. New Hamburg Independent, February 4, 1970

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 30 Jan 1906 - Denmark Occupation - baker - 1953 - New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 1 Feb 1970 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth