St. Martin's Church

In the year 1847 the first people came to the area known as Rhineland or Loutre Island, along the Missouri River.  The area was soon to be named "Starkenburg."  The settlers were Germans from the Hermann, Missouri area. They would have special services when missionaries came.  In this barn was a statue, which the Germans named "Weisse dame" or  "White Lady."

St. Martin's Parish was chartered in 1848.  The Parish was named after St. Martin, Bishop of Tours, France.  One year after being charted, forty acres were obtained and a log church was built.

In the year 1852, the Parish of St. Martin constructed a humble log building, which would become the new home of the "White Lady."  Whenever the parish conducted a procession on the extensive church grounds, they would carry Her in their midst.  This public expression of Catholic devotion attracted the attention even of non-Catholics in the neighborhood. 

Twenty years later, in 1872, parishioners began to replace the log church, by building one of stone.  In 1873, a cornerstone was laid for a new stone church.  Rock was quarried from the area.  In 1873, Rev. Joseph Schaefer, the pastor, placed the White Lady in the newly erected Stone Church, St. Martin's Church.  In 1874, a Gothic-style church was consecrated.  There was a large bell, several statues, and stained glass windows.  In 1877, the Franciscans took charge of the Parish.  For a few years, the Madonna  remained in the Church.  Then, a larger and more elegant statue replaced it, and the former was placed in an attic.  

On October 27, 1887, Father George Hoehn, from Heppenheim, Germany became Pastor of St. Martin's Church.  Father Hoehn was a zealous, friendly man, and the simple piety of the people at his first mass with them impressed him.  He was delighted that the natural surroundings of his parish so closely resembled his homeland.  August Mitsch, Father Hoehn's nephew, came to St. Martin's on November 2, 1887 to serve as a sacristan.

In the year 1888, during the month of May, near St. Martin's Church and where the magnificent Shrine now towers over the hills, a dogwood bush was in its full beauty, covered with hundreds of its fragrant blossoms.  In the attic of the monastery, which now served as the rectory, August Mitsch found an old, white faded statue of the Blessed Mother.  This he took and placed in the midst of the flowers of the bush.  A more beautiful canopy for the Madonna could not have been imagined.  The addition of a few candles completed the May altar.  The place of devotion was soon discovered.  

August Mitsch, with the aid of two students, the Rev. Fathers George Koob and Jacob Denner, built a new log hut, to replace the one built in 1852, to protect the White Lady.  Hardly two persons could kneel within, the rest had to kneel outside.  The number of the faithful that frequented the woodland shrine increased rapidly, and the hut was soon replaced by a small chapel, octagonal shape, which was also constructed of logs, with a small steeple to the front.  Stained glass windows from Germany further enhanced it, and a bell was immediately hung in the tower.