ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF COLOGNE AND THE COOPERATIVE NEULAND

The colony was founded Neuland between the years 1947 and 1948 by descendants of German refugees from the Soviet Union and Poland.

Initially, it was intended to integrate these immigrants in the colony Fernheim. However, under the advice and cooperation of Fernheim, was elected a committee comprised of members representing immigrants. This committee was responsible for locating the settlers, who adopted the name of Neuland, which means new land. The first land on which asentarían acquired MCC (Mennonita Central Committee), covering 40 miles, or 75,000 ha.

After a reconnaissance of the land to colonize, at a meeting on July 30, 1947, took the decision to found the first three villages of Neuland: Neu-Halbstadt, Neuendorf and Einlage. Each estate was to receive 12 hectares. Ground (open field) suitable for agriculture. Families receiving child has 6. Field. Later mountain plots were distributed to the empowerment of artificial pasture for livestock, so that a property has 300 full available.

On 30 September 1947 there was the first meeting of immigrants in the center of the future Cologne Neuland, below a samu'û just the tree next to the fountain.

On that day were present 52 women and 30 men, all leaders of families. It was when the decision was taken to baptize the colony as "Neuland, and the center was nominated" Neu-Halbstadt.

The reasons for the village Neu-Halbstadt was formed at the centre were its central location between the other villages and an abundance of fresh groundwater.

One very important resolution of the assembly was above that for a year, Neuland would have its own administration in the civil, but economically it would be associated with the Cooperative Fernheim. Through the cooperative would be distributed to settlers inputs and receiving food MCC.

The cooperative would also be responsible for the purchase and sale of other products.