Wittenberg, Missouri facts for kids
Wittenberg is a historic community in eastern Perry County, Missouri, United States. It is located right on the Mississippi River, about 14 miles southeast of Perryville. Wittenberg is in an area called the Brazeau Bottoms, near Brazeau Creek. Across the river, you can see Grand Tower, Illinois, and a famous island landmark called Tower Rock.
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A Look Back: Wittenberg's History
Wittenberg was one of seven communities started in 1839. These towns were founded by German Lutheran immigrants. The other towns included Altenburg, Dresden, Frohna, Johannisberg, Paitzdorf, and Seelitz. The settlers named all these places after towns in their home region of Saxony, Germany.
Why the Name Wittenberg?
The community's name, Wittenberg, comes from a city in Germany. This German city is very important in Lutheran history. It's where Martin Luther famously posted his Ninety-five Theses. This event helped start the Reformation, a major change in Christian history.
A New Home: Religious Freedom
The German immigrants who settled here later helped form the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. They saw Tower Rock, a landmark in the nearby Mississippi River, as their own version of Plymouth Rock. For them, it symbolized finding religious freedom in a new land.
Wittenberg's Busy Days
At its busiest, Wittenberg had about 400 people living there. Besides St. Paul's Lutheran Church and a one-room school, the town had many businesses. These included a brewery, a furniture factory, two grocery stores, a tavern, a flour mill, and two hotels.
The Last Train Robbery in Missouri
Wittenberg is known for something unusual: the last train robbery in Missouri. In November 1922, a train heading to San Francisco, California, from St. Louis was robbed. This happened about 2 miles north of Wittenberg. Over $100,000 was taken. The people involved were stopped by law enforcement officers.
Challenges and Changes
Major floods in 1927 and 1973 caused a lot of damage to Wittenberg. Most of the businesses were destroyed. The town's school closed in 1969.
By 1980, only a few people lived in Wittenberg. The U.S. Census Bureau counted four residents, but the community proved there were actually eight. Finally, in 1983, with only five people left, the residents asked a judge to officially end the town's status. This request was granted. The Great Mississippi and Missouri Rivers Flood of 1993 then destroyed most of what was left.
Today, you can only find a few old house foundations, steps, and a paved boat dock by the river. In 1994, the Lutheran Historical Society of Perry County placed a large marker where the Wittenberg Lutheran Church once stood.
Wittenberg's Location and Surroundings
Wittenberg is located at the southern end of the Brazeau Bottom area, right along the Mississippi River. To its west are the tall Mississippi River bluffs. To the east, you can see Tower Rock, Grand Tower Island, and Grand Tower, Illinois. Brazeau Creek flows into the Mississippi River at Wittenberg. The Grand Tower Pipeline Bridge, which carries a pipeline, also crosses the Mississippi River at Wittenberg.
Images for kids
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Town and church marker
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Marker
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St. Paul's Lutheran Church altar
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St. Paul's Lutheran Church pulpit
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St. Paul's Cemetery
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Boat club landing
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Grand Tower Pipeline Bridge
