In highlighting different aspects of our exhibit “Flowing through Time: Wittenberg, Tower Rock & the Mississippi River, I have intentionally been holding off on Wittenberg because I have felt wholly unqualified to say much about it as a “just over a year-long” resident of Perry County. I’ve struggled with how to Wittenberg’s story without showing my ignorance but also not spending all my time in research. I finally settled on this approach: a timeline of Wittenberg gleaned from various sources. For those life-long residents as well as those “born here, left and came back” residents all around here, feel free to correct or add anything in the comments!

When I was able to find them, I have included links to Warren’s blog posts that talk about these places and people.

1797 – First settler in Brazeau bottoms

1803 – John Manning purchased land in what would become Wittenberg soon after the Louisiana Purchase   (Read his story here)

1839 – Saxon Immigrants arrived

1841 – Records show 15 houses and 2 stores

1854 – Brenner Brewery opened (Read about it here)

1857 – Public school established

1859 – Road from Appleton to Wittenberg approved by MO General Assembly showing its importance as a shipping and receiving port

1862 – First Post Office opened

1864 – William Lueders opened general merchandise store (Read about him here)

1866 – Joseph Weinhold opened flour mill (Read about him here)

1867 – Wittenberg incorporated

1870 – 116 residents according to census

1875 – A SE Missouri business directory lists businesses in existence as a saloon and confectionary operated by Frederick Arensburg; a stove and tinware business owned by J.A. Barley; a plow, wagon and buggy manufacturing and machine shop operated by Henry Birner; Estel, Weinhold & Co’s steam powered Lone Star Flour Mill; William Lueders’ general merchandise and commission business; a general merchandise, forwarding and commission business run by C.D. Milster; a general merchandise store owned by Zacharias Muller; and Joseph Mueller’s dry goods and general merchandise store.

1877 – Lutheran school established

1880 – 129 residents according to census

1880 – Church/School building erected

1890 – 133 residents according to census

1891 – Brewery closed

1895 – Nennert Hotel mentioned (I can’t figure out when it opened)

1898 – Joseph Mueller opens general merchandise store (Read about him here)

1900 – 114 residents according to census

1901 (or thereabouts) – Birner Hotel opened (Read about it here)

1903 – St. Paul Lutheran Church established; Flood

1904 – Railroad depot opened

1906 – Bank of Wittenberg opened

1907 – Fire destroyed businesses along the waterfront

1908 – Meisner Lumber Company (“swing factory”) opened (Read about it here)

1909 – Parsonage constructed

1910 – 87 residents according to census

1911 or so – Louis Boehme and Adolph Thurm partner and a bought Lueders’ Store (Read about it here)

1920 – 269 residents according to census

1920 – New brick church constructed

1921 – Teacherage constructed

1922 – Last Train Robbery in Missouri (Read the story here); Flood

1926 – Perfection Furniture Company plant closed; Bank of Wittenberg closed

1927 – Flood

1929 – Estel, Weinhold Flour Mill closed

1930 – 95 residents according to census

It is at this point that information (as well as my time!) becomes somewhat scarce. Census records indicate that the population was 84 in 1940, 54 in 1950, 30 in 1960, 9 in 1970, and 4 in 1980. Another flood in 1973 did more damage. In 1983, Wittenberg was disincorporated.

Gerard shared a story with me yesterday of an extended simile about Wittenberg told by a former pastor (Rev. Al Strand). He said that the town of Wittenberg is like a play. You start out with an empty stage. Then things begin to happen as the set is being built and actors appear to begin rehearsals. The heyday comes when the play opens. It makes its run and is the highlight for a time. Then the run ends, the actors leave and, before long, even the set has disappeared.

Our exhibit shows glimpses of Wittenberg while the play was being performed. Come and enjoy the performance!

The museum is open daily 10 am – 4 pm. Admission is free. See you soon!