By Phil Lewis, THS German teacher
After four years of exchanging emails with Ludwig Wahlmeyer, he informed me this week that a group of 17 people from the Bad Laer, Germany region are coming to Teutopolis on Saturday, October 3. They began organizing the tour earlier this year. It begins in Cincinnati where many Teutopolis residents' ancestors lived at one time. They will board a tour bus there and drive to Teutopolis arriving sometime in the early afternoon. They are scheduled to arrive on Route 40 (the National Road) and will tour the Village Hall to meet Mayor Jerry Weber, Sharon Will, and village board members. Sharon is preparing welcome bags for each of them with mementos of Teutopolis. Certificates will declare them as honorary citizens of Teutopolis.
Ludwig is the head of the local historical society and has been instrumental in helping research topics for history competitions. Every year the group selects a topic to research, develop, and exhibit in their museum. This year they selected emigration from their area to places like America. They asked me to find out more about Franz (Frank) and Anton Holkenbrink, who emigrated to Effingham County around 1870. I asked Lois Meinhart, whose maiden name was Holkenbrink, if she had any information about her family. She said her cousin, Barbara Hardiek, had compiled stories and genealogy of Frank Holkenbrink, Jr. who lived in Sigel and is buried there. I went to the Helen Matthes Library to check immigration, census, and cemetery records for more information. I scanned documents, photos, vintage postcards, etc. and sent them to Ludwig to use in their museum exhibit. He also wanted modern photos of Teutopolis, so I used my digital camera to photograph places on the Teutopolis afghan and other older buildings. Bad Laer residents will know what Teutopolis looks like before they arrive here.
Ludwig used the exhibit as a recruiting tool for the trip to America. A professor in the area, who is a world traveler, organized the trip. The tour is titled "1000 Miles through the Midwest." A Holkenbrink couple is a part of the group and wants to see the family farm which now belongs to Floyd Holkenbrink, a grandson of Frank Holkenbrink, Sr. The German Holkenbrinks are also farmers in the Bad Laer area.
While visiting the area, Bad Laer residents will take a tour of Teutopolis on Saturday including the village hall, high school, cemetery, and new fire station complex. They will conclude their day by traveling to Effingham to stay at the Comfort Inn.
