The Historical
Community of Leopold
In
1856 Reverend John van Luytelaar, established Vinemount, Missouri.
Rev. John and 12 other families went looking for farm land. Families
making trip included Clement Beel, John Debrock, Herman Elfrink, Jacob
Holweg, Arnold Jansen, F. Meyer, A. Rickhoff, John Scharenborg, J. G. Sonderen,
J.W. Tuling, and Wm. Wardracker. Wm. Wardracker was unable
to make the pioneer life and left back for Cincinnati after two years of
living here.
These families traveled down the Ohio River and up the Mississippi River
by boat to Cape Girardeau and then found the community of Vinemount.
Other families followed them and the community was starting to unfold.
In 1894 the first Post Office was built to serve the town of Vinemount.
In the process of building the Post Office they realized there was already
a Post Office in Missouri by the name of Vinemount. This was when
a name change was in order. The people then decided on the name of,
"Leopolis" (City of Leo), in honor of the Pope. This name was rejected
and the present name, Leopold, was then proposed and accepted.
To learn more
about the community of Leopold click on one of the links below:
Post Office
General
Store
Gas Station
Cemetery
Knights
of Columbus
Created by: Emily Broshuis & Megan Keith
Leopold's
Post Office
The
first Leopold postmaster was John Hahn. He would pick up the mail
at church from Mr. Gerhard Luebbers and distribute it to the townspeople.
When
Elmer Nenninger became the postmaster, the Post Office was moved to its
present location in 1953.
Leopold's
General Store
What
is now known as Mackes Feed and Grocery store was earlier known as Elfrink's
General Merchandise Store in 1956. During the years the store was
handed over to many different owners. These include Paul Hutchings,
William Arnzen, John and Wilma VanGennip, Steve and Mary VanGennip, Ralph
Macke, and Gerard Macke. Corey and Edgar Stoverink purchased
the store in 2003, and named it "The Country Store." They have added
a breakfast and lunch menu which many members of the community enjoy.
Leopold's
Gas Station
Among
the businesses in Leopold is an automobile transmission service shop operated
by Fred Beussink. Mr. Beussink had been associated for a number of
years with a transmission service company in St. Louis until in 1973 when
he returned with his family to the Leopold area and built the modern three-bay
service facility on a farm on highway F, purchased from Herman Beussink.
Years
later, Fred Beussink moved his business into Leopold. This is now
a transmission service and gas station. The picture above is of the
new Beussinks transmission service.
Because of
continuing environmental restrictions Fred decided to close the gas station
section of the business in 2007. The transmission work continues.
Leopold's
Cemetery
The
Leopold's St. Johns Cemetery
Association was formed in 1952. This made it possible for church
members to help take care of the graves of their relatives and loved ones.
Leopold's
Knights of Columbus Hall & Shrine
On
October 16, 1966 a group of Catholic men from the community met to organize
a Council of the Knights of Columbus in Leopold.
On
September 26, 1967 the KC's purchased land from William Spooler.
This is the property where the K of C Hall is now located. The Knights
of Columbus Hall was built in 1968.
A memorial
shrine to Our Lady, Queen of Peace, was built under the supervision of
William A. Landewee in 1973.
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to Historical Information Page
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to Leopold Home Page
Created by: Emily Broshuis & Megan Keith