Oldenburg, Indiana is know as the “Village or Spires” due to the many steeples that dot the town’s skyline. The town was founded by German Catholics, and that Faith is still predominate in Oldenburg. This flower box and Statue of Mary is outside the Post Office building.
Oldenburg Indiana is known for its rich religious history. Founded in 1837 by German settlers, it is known as the “Village of Spires” due to the multiple church steeples that make up the town’s skyline.
Located about a mile outside the town limits visitors will find the beautiful Sorrowful Mother Shrine, erected in 1871 by Siegfried Koehler, who had arrived in Oldenburg from Alsace, France in the late 1830’s.
The Altar
Prayer bench
The statue on the altar is actually a plaster cast of the original that Koehler brought with him on the ship from France. The original was found to be hand carved from black walnut, and now is in the Holy Family Catholic Church in Oldenburg to protect it from vandalism.
The Seven Sorrows of Mary
Seven Sorrows pictured
The shrine is found on a country road, and is in a beautiful setting. Trees, lawns and a stone bench ad to the ambience. While it can be locked, the shrine was open the day we visited. This is a Holy and Sacred place, and you can feel peace and serenity at the shrine.
Sher and I saw this fire hydrant across the street from the Immaculate Conception Convent of the Third Order of the Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg, Indiana. See pictures and history of the convent at our post here.
On our recent RV day trip Sher and I spent a most enjoyable time viewing an Indiana treasure: The Immaculate Conception Convent, which is the Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. The Sisters of St. Francis continue to serve the people of Indiana. Learn details at their Website Here including the fascinating history of the Order.
Motherhouse, right and church, left. Parking lot is for the Holy Family Catholic Church, out of view on left
Chapel and portion of the cemetery for Sisters
Beautiful Shrine overlooks the cemetery grounds
Not only is there beautiful architecture on the campus but peaceful cemeteries, shrines, a school and a farm. Oldenburg is known as “The City of Spires” due to the many church spires visible on the skyline of this quaint Indiana town.
A few days ago Sher and I took a nice day trip in our RV to south east Indiana. Our first stop was Batesville, covered in a previous post. Next stop was Oldenburg, another town with a strong German heritage.
The Holy Family Catholic Church has a long history in Oldenburg. The stone church was finished in 1848 as seen in the pictures above. It replaced the original log church, and is now the Rectory.
The current church is a magnificent structure. The day we visited was election day, so there was a fair amount of foot traffic in and out of the entrance to the Fellowship Hall. Social Distancing was not a problem. The large stone cross is a remembrance for the first Mission that was preached in 1848.
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