We’re thrilled to share that restoration work is underway at the Log Cabin College! Phase 1 has officially kicked off with Marler Construction on site, working hard to repair the canopy that shelters and protects this historic structure. These much-needed repairs are a critical first step in preserving the cabin for generations to come. We’re grateful to be moving forward—and we couldn’t do it without the support of our incredible supporters.

Before we go any further – just in case anyone stops reading before we get to the end – I have a quick fundraising update and request:

Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to this “Special Project” through our 2024 end-of-year letter. Your early support helped us get this project off the ground. But we’re not done yet! If you haven’t had a chance to donate and would like to be part of preserving this important piece of our history, we’d deeply appreciate your support. Every gift brings us closer to completing the full restoration. To donate online, click here and scroll down to “Gesellschaft.” Prefer to donate by check? Please mail it to: Lutheran Heritage Center, PO Box 53, Altenburg, MO 63732. Thank you very much for helping us preserve the past for the future!

Now back to our regularly scheduled post! (Thanks given to Warren as much of this history and pictures are gleaned from his past posts.)

Since we’re focusing on the Log Cabin College, I’ve amassed some pictures of its history you hopefully will enjoy.

We’ll start before the cabin is even completed. On August 13, 1839 the following advertisement appeared in a St. Louis German newspaper called the Anzeiger des Westens.

For those who can’t read German, here’s the English translation:

We, the undersigned, intend to establish an instruction and training institution which differs from the common elementary schools principally in that it will embrace, outside of (in addition to) the general elementary curriculum (or branches), all branches of the (classical) high school, which are necessary for a true Christian and scientific education, such as: Religion, the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, German, French, and English Language; History, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Natural History, Introduction to Philosophy, Music, and Drawing.

In said branches the pupils of our institution shall be sufficiently advanced to enable them, after finishing the entire course, to take up studies at the university.

The esteemed parents who desire to entrust their children to our institution are advised to obtain information regarding the plan and arrangement of the same from Pastor O. H. Walther, No. 14 Poplar St., between First and Second, St. Louis.—God willing, the instruction is to begin on the 1st of October, this year.

At the German Lutheran place of settlement in Perry County, Mo., near the Obrazo, August 13, 1839.

C. Ferd. W. Walther, Th. Jul. Brohm,
Ottomar Fuerbringer, Joh. Fr. Buenger.

The school did not start on time. It was December 9th of 1839 before this school opened its doors for the first time as a school. 

The same three young men who built the school also taught there.  Those three were Johann Friedrich Buenger, Ottomar Fuerbringer, and Theodore Brohm.

There were 11 students in the inaugural class of the Log Cabin College.  The institution started out as a gymnasium,  and, as such, it was a co-ed school for a while.  It was not until several years later that this institution transitioned to become a seminary that trained just young men for the ministry.  Here is a list of the first students and their ages.

•                 Herman Buenger                                                                         age 14
•                 Franz Julius Biltz                                                                          age 14
•                 Johann Andrew Friedrich Wilhelm Mueller                           age 14
•                 Lydia “Liddy” Buenger                                                                age 12
•                 Christoph Heinrich Loeber                                                         age 11
•                 Theodor Schubert                                                                       age 10
•                 Martha Loeber                                                                            age 9
•                 Maria von Wurmb                                                                       age 9
•                 Theobald von Wurmb                                                                 age 7
•                 Sara von Wurmb                                                                         age 5
•                 Columbus Price                                                                           age 25

The Log Cabin College was moved to a location in the town of Altenburg around 1842 so that it would be more convenient for Pastor Loeber to teach after the other teachers took calls elsewhere. There is still a monument located where the Log Cabin College was first built in what was called Dresden at the time.

The Log Cabin College, when it later transitioned to train pastors, became known as Concordia Seminary.  In fact, there were five graduates of Concordia Seminary, Altenburg, before that institution moved to St. Louis in 1849.  Three of those graduates were student in the first class……Franz Julius Biltz, J.A.F.W. Mueller, and Christoph Loeber.

The cabin was sold at auction in 1855 by the heirs of Pastor Loeber. This sale was probably confirmed by an 1859 quit claim deed transferring the cabin and 4.3 acre lot from the Loeber heirs to Gottlieb Funke for $80.00. Funke lived there for the next 38 years. His will in 1893 provided that the cabin and lot be donated to the church in consideration of the Altenburg congregation’s having cared for him during his illness. In 1912, at the suggestion of Rev. H. Schmidt, the cabin was moved to its present location at the church grove in Altenburg.

It was not long after its move to the park near the church that plans were designed to place the College under a pavilion structure to help preserve this building into the future. We have this postcard that illustrates one of the original plans for that pavilion.

The pavilion was built in 1915. It looked very similar to the above illustration, but some changes were made in its design.

In 1978, the cabin was placed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Here is how it looked in 2010:

A new roof was added in 2020:

One final picture for those of you who have persevered to the end. In October 2004, my husband John was the best man at a wedding held at Trinity Lutheran Church, Altenburg. Little did we know when we took this picture the connections we would end up having here 20 years later!

Stay tuned—we’ll be sharing photos and updates as the work continues!

Please feel free to share this post with anyone you think might be interested in helping us finance these important repairs. Every bit of support makes a difference!