Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Welcome to Hermann Missouri's Blog

Welcome to Hermann Missouri's Blog Site!

HISTORY
Hermann, The Missouri River town in Gasconade County, is cupped against the background of 300 foot hills. The early houses are set against the sidewalk with neat lawns and flower gardens which give the city an old world charm.
The German Settlement Society of Philadelphia was organized on August 27, 1836 after having first met at the Penn Hotel, Laetetia Court, Market Street, Philadelphia on May 7th of that same year. The German people were anxious to preserve their language, customs and way of life in this new land. Three deputies were sent out to find this land in the Far West while the Society started selling share in the project.
When the deputies returned they strongly recommended the area along the Gasconade River, no doubt because it reminded them of their homeland along the Rhine and Weser. George Bayer, a school teacher, was sent to buy the land. While he was doing this the Society planned the city of Hermann, named the streets and laid out parks etc. Bayer purchased 11,012.5 acres in Gasconade County for $13,765.68. Most of the land he bought was along the mouth and valley of Frene Creek and at Oldenberg (Stolpe).
With an eagerness that almost seems unnatural the first immigrants, seventeen people, arrived December 6, 1837. George Bayer, who had been appointed general agent, became ill at Pittsburg and could not continue the journey. This delay caused great inconvenience for the people who arrived here and had to spend the first winter in shelters on the banks of the Missouri.
When Bayer arrived in the spring of 1838 he found the people sound of body but not content in mind.
By May of 1839 there were 450 people in Hermann, ninety houses, five stores, two hotels and a post office established in 1838.




Paul J. Chavaux - Tween Steeples HighPoint B & B - http://www.tweensteeples.com/