Schnellville, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Schnellville, Indiana
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 Schnellville, Indiana
Location in Indiana
Schnellville, Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Dubois |
| Township | Jefferson |
| Elevation | 640 ft (200 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 171 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
47580
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| Area code(s) | 812, 930 |
| FIPS code | 18-68256 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2830366 |
Schnellville is a small community in Dubois County, Indiana, in the United States. It is called an "unincorporated community" because it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town does. Instead, it's part of a larger area called Jefferson Township.
Contents
History of Schnellville
Schnellville was founded by a German man named Henry Schnell. He was born in Hesse, Germany, in 1821. When he was 25, Henry decided to move to the United States to find a new home.
Henry Schnell's Journey
After arriving in America, Henry worked on a steamboat, a railroad, and even the Erie Canal. He then went back to Germany, but sadly, he learned that his wife and son had passed away. Heartbroken, he returned to the United States.
Henry settled in Dubois County. He bought some land, about 40 acres, but sold it a few years later. He moved to Louisville, Kentucky, for three years. However, he soon returned to Dubois County. He bought a farm and opened a country store. After a year, he sold that farm and bought another one two years later to continue farming.
Henry's big dream was to find a perfect spot to start a town. He finally found a piece of land that he believed would grow into a community.
Early Days of the Town
The first post office in the area opened in 1848. It was called "Worth" and operated until 1861. On November 27, 1865, the town of Schnellville was officially planned out. A new post office was set up in 1869, named Schnellville, and it served the community until 1962.
In 1876, Henry Schnell built a saw mill and a flour mill. He also bought a lot of farmland, between 500 and 600 acres. Henry Schnell passed away on May 25, 1900, and was buried in the Schnellville cemetery.
Sacred Heart Church
In 1873, a group of men from Schnellville wanted to start their own church. They asked Bishop St. Palais for permission. On November 10, 1873, the Bishop agreed, and the Sacred Heart Parish was formed.
The first church building was made of wood. It was 40 feet long and 60 feet wide, with a 20-foot-high ceiling. A tall tower, called a cupola, was built on the front, reaching 65 feet above the ground. The church cost $1,600 to build and was finished on November 1, 1874.
Sadly, on April 24, 1898, a fire completely destroyed the church and all its records. The priest at the time, Father John Schueth, visited every family in the parish. He asked for donations to build a new church. He also asked the Bishop for permission, which was quickly granted. Many people from the community volunteered their time to help build the new church. The new Sacred Heart Church was completed on October 24, 1916. It took 25 months to finish the project.
The School in Schnellville
In 1903, Schnellville built a new school building. It replaced an older school that only had two rooms. Most of the teachers at the new school were Sisters of St. Benedict from Ferdinand, Indiana. In 1947, the school started a cafeteria in the basement of the church. They served meals to 50 to 60 students for just 25 cents each!
