Elm Street- Washington Missouri, Franklin County
“Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands. But like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose them as your guides, and following them you will reach your destiny. I invite you to ascend with me the watchtower of history, overlooking the grand panorama of the development of human affairs, in which the American Republic stands in so bold and prominent relief.” [1]
Ideals are the guiding principles that motivate us towards our most distant goals. As the quote by Carl Schurz suggests, “ideals are like stars that we use as guides to reach our destiny, but we cannot touch them with our hands.” This can allude to the early German immigrants who came to distant America, risking everything they valued, including their lives, to achieve their dreams. They settled here on Elm Street, forming businesses and building homes [1]
The stereograph of Elm Street in Washington, Missouri, Franklin County, in 1870, shows a small, dusty town with only a main street and a handful of people. The town was home to the C. Kegelmann Cigar Factory until 1889, and a general store owned by H. Poppenhusen. These remnant buildings and names are the dirt of a taproot once grown by our first German immigrants here in the United States. [2]
German immigrants came to America in droves, driven by a desire to seek a better life and pursue their dreams. They were willing to risk everything they had to achieve their goals, one such group being the Geissen Immigration Society. Over one thousand people applied to join this company, including Fridrich Meunch, who came to Missouri and established farms and wineries. [3]
The stereograph technology that this image of Elm Street was captured with was popularized by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. in the early 1840s and late 1850s. The technology was touted as a tool to revolutionize education, offering more lifelike experiences for students. While it may have started as a novelty item, it was eventually marketed to schools to enhance educational experiences. The early German immigrants who came to America were driven by a similar ideal — to seek a better life and improve their circumstances. They brought with them their industry and skills, sowing the seeds of their culture and businesses in America, and contributing to the growth and prosperity of the nation. [4][5]
The German immigrants who came to America not only brought their industry and skills with them but also their tools and equipment. This reflected their practical nature, and a desire to make the most of the resources available to them. They understood that to cultivate the land and establish thriving businesses, they needed to have the right tools and equipment. The Germans were known to bring their flax wheels, spinning wheels, and looms to America, quite literally sowing the seeds of their culture and businesses. They were able to adapt their skills to the new environment, leveraging the resources available to them to establish successful enterprises. In doing so, they not only contributed to the growth and development of America but also ensured the preservation of their cultural heritage. [6]
In conclusion, the stereograph of Elm Street in Washington, Missouri, Franklin County, in 1870, offers a glimpse into the humble beginnings of a small town that grew to become a thriving community. The German immigrants who came to America played a significant role in building the nation and cultivating their own culture here in the US. They were driven by the ideal of seeking a better life and pursuing their dreams, just like the stars that guide us towards our destiny. As we ascend with Carl Schurz to the watchtower of history, we can see the grand panorama of the development of human affairs, in which the American Republic stands in bold and prominent relief.
[1] Schurz. “True Americanism.” Faneuil Hall, Boston, April 18, 1859.
[2] Perkins. “Elm Street” Photograph. https://shsmo.newspapers.com/. Washington, Missouri Franklin County, 1870.
[3] W. Arthur Mehrhoff, Explore Missouri’s German Heritage (Missouri Life, 2019), 35
[4] Trempe , Franny. “Holmes Stereoscope.” Physical, Electrical, Digital . Kimon Hosting NYU. Accessed April 10, 2023. https://kimon.hosting.nyu.edu/physical-electrical-digital/items/show/1092.
[5] Ritzenthaler, Mary Lynn. “Stereographs (1850 to 1900s).” Stereographs (1850 to 1900s). Oregon State University. Accessed April 10, 2023. https://guides.library.oregonstate.edu/earlyphotoformats/stereographs
[6] Charles Van Ravenswaay, “Introduction: The German Settlers,” in The Arts and Arcitecture of German Settlements in Missouri (University of Missouri Press, 1977)
