Frankenmuth - Michigan's Little Bavaria (2) by Kaartijer

Photography • Collage • posted on Apr 07, 2010

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Description

Here's the second collage, with a different positioning of the images. Part II A few of the colonists walked to the future settlement region to examine the land. They selected a slightly hilly area which reminded them of the native Mittelfranken and built a rough shelter there. On August 18, almost four months after they had left Bremerhafen, the 15 colonists packed their belongings in an oxcart and walked about 12 miles through forest, thickets, and swamps to Frankenmuth. They purchased 680 acres of Indian Reservation land from the federal government for $1,700.00. The colonists were often weakened with malaria while working at clearing the forest. A combination church-school-parsonage log cabin, built in the center of the land tract, was completed before Christmas day. The church was named St. Lorenz, after their mother churches in Neuendettelsau and Rosstal. The settlement, however wasn't developed exactly according to Loehe's original plan. Pastors Loehe and Craemer wanted everyone to build their homes together near the church, so that the group would remain intact and organized in the manner of German villages. The colonists disagreed, and all decided to live on their own 120 acre farms which they would clear. While the first settlers were erecting their log houses, Pastor Craemer began to visit the Chippewa Indians in the area to interest them in a mission school for their children. But there were unanticipated problems. Before the colonists had arrived in Saginaw, they knew nothing of the Indians' appearance, behavior, culture, or language. The Indians were already leaving the Frankenmuth area in search of better hunting grounds away from the cleared lands of the white man. Efforts to change their nomadic habits to "Germanize" and "Lutheranize" them weren't very successful. By 1847, most of the area's Indians lived along rivers 30-80 miles west. In total, about 35 Indians were taught and baptized into St. Lorenz Church. Although the Indian mission in Frankenmuth closed, the immigrant congregation continued to grow and prosper. In 1846 a second group of about 90 emigrants journeyed to Frankenmuth. Loehe complained about the large number, because he felt that many didn't have the missionary cause at heart. Many of these people came from the Altmuehl region of Bavaria (20 were from the city of Rosstal). After seven weeks of stormy sailing, they reached New York Harbor. Two and a half weeks later they reached Frankenmuth, traveling the same route as the 1845 group. This second group had a more difficult time traveling through U.S. cities, since none of them spoke any English. Upon reaching the Frankenmuth clearing, they were deeply disappointed. One settler wrote home, "The most miserable village in Germany has palaces by comparison." These colonists also bought land and began to clear the trees and build homes. Many of them would lead in the development of St. Lorenz Church and especially the business community of Frankenmuth. A log church was completed by December 26, 1846. The town developed about a mile east of the church and initial settlement in 1847, where a dam and mill were built on the Cass River. Encouraged by the success of the Frankenmuth settlement, Pastor Loehe also organized three other colonies in Michigan. Frankentrost, about six miles north of Frankenmuth, was founded in 1847 by about 22 families. Loehe's purpose was not another mission colony, but rather to cluster German Lutherans together in Michigan. Farms were set up in long, narrow strips along one road so that all the houses could be built close to each other, more like a German "dorf." Frankenlust, 22 miles north of Frankenmuth, was settled in 1848 for the same reason as Frankentrost. Loehe's fourth colony, started in 1850, had a different purpose: to help poor and/or unmarried Germans to lead new and better lives. Frankenhilf, called Richville today, is about 9 miles northeast of Frankenmuth. Originally, Loehe planned it as an industrial center for high employment, but farming prevailed after the forests were cleared.

Comments (35)

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drifterlee

6:48PM | Wed, 07 April 2010

Bring on those all you can eat chicken dinners!!!!!

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blondeblurr

7:20PM | Wed, 07 April 2010

Hey, that's a much better placement and aligning... the only crit now is the sky colour, a little too pink ? otherwise well done, BB

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Kaartijer

7:21PM | Wed, 07 April 2010

@ BB It was evening... you know, sunset colors...

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babuci

7:57PM | Wed, 07 April 2010

I would pick this from the postcard stand. A bit cleaner and perhaps because I do love those caracteristic houses.

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alessimarco

8:02PM | Wed, 07 April 2010

Another excellent collage! Beautiful work!

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annie5

8:11PM | Wed, 07 April 2010

Love those architectures..they are proud it's very clean! Super captures & collage :)

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Minda

8:18PM | Wed, 07 April 2010

Terrific collage and superb capture eddie..like the place..

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Madbat

8:35PM | Wed, 07 April 2010

Interesting history, thanks for sharing that! Yeah, I think this one is balanced a bit better. That town is really a nice change from the typical western architecture.

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tennesseecowgirl

8:51PM | Wed, 07 April 2010

They are both beautifully done, I however prefer the first one, where the name of the town is off to the right side. Nice work!

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magnus073 Online Now!

9:08PM | Wed, 07 April 2010

Wonderful collage Eddie, you really made this place seem so magical.

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Faemike55

9:57PM | Wed, 07 April 2010

Wonderful collage and interesting history lesson

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kbrog

10:01PM | Wed, 07 April 2010

Excellent collage! Such a wonderful place.

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Richardphotos

10:11PM | Wed, 07 April 2010

we complain about hardships now, but early settlers had a really hard life and probably were more happy, another outstanding collage

MrsLubner

11:47PM | Wed, 07 April 2010

Outstanding collage.

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Darkwish

12:29AM | Thu, 08 April 2010

Amazing pic. Very well done.

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dragonmuse

2:16AM | Thu, 08 April 2010

Very nice collage.

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Meisiekind

3:01AM | Thu, 08 April 2010

Another stunning example! Don't make me choose - they are really both wonderful! :)

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lior

4:16AM | Thu, 08 April 2010

Superb collage!

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njb2000

4:31AM | Thu, 08 April 2010

Great story of some people with great determination and what a wonderful gift they left, Lovely looking place, quiet magical! Great work!

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RodolfoCiminelli

5:41AM | Thu, 08 April 2010

Another wonderful and beautiful photo collection my friend....!!!

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clbsmiley

7:24AM | Thu, 08 April 2010

I like this, but if for a postcard... I like the first one better. Because of the placement of the Town name, and the full view of the waterfall picture. :)

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