Blogging A to Z: “J”-asper, Indiana

My husband and his family are from Jasper, Indiana, a town founded in 1830, with a rich German, Catholic heritage. Today, Jasper has almost 15,000 residents and is the county seat for Dubois County. The area was originally inhabited by the Piankishaw/Shawnee Indian tribe and was covered by forest.

St. Joseph Catholic Church, Jasper, Indiana. Photo by Diane Weidenbenner.

Jasper’s name comes from a Mrs. Enlow, whose family owned the town’s first 120 acres. She read Revelation 21:19, which says, “And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was Jasper …,” and the town’s name was born. It’s located 122 miles south of Indianapolis, covers 13.17 square miles and is bound by the Patoka River on the east. There are several things that you’ll notice when visiting Jasper. One is Courthouse Square, which includes the four-story, slightly elevated Dubois County Courthouse, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1910, was renovated in 1996, and boasts nicely preserved Renaissance Revivial-style architecture.

There is a Riverfront Master Plan Development in the works which people hope will invigorate the square and make it more of a place to shop, eat and hang-out. A large annual draw for Jasper is the five-day Strassenfest, a festival which celebrates the German heritage of Jasper and draws more than 30,000 visitors on the first weekend of August. This event is centered around the Courthouse Square, with booths for German food, children’s games, a Bier Garten, lively bands with polka music, fireworks, etc., and includes a substantial parade. My husband’s parents have been actively involved for years.

Another icon is Saint Joseph Catholic Church, founded in 1837 by Father Joseph Kundek, a missionary priest from Croatia. The current building was built beginning in 1867 and was completed and blessed in 1880. The church was renovated in 1954. Father Kundek had a large role in German immigrants migrating to the area because he spoke German, English and French, and encouraged the German residents to write their families about Jasper’s promising future.

To get a feel for how Jasper and Dubois County came to be, you should visit the Dubois County Museum. It’s an interesting place to learn more about the German heritage and how the area was settled through agriculture, woodworking and the effect of several wars. You’ll learn more about the Buffalo Trace, which cut through the northern part of the county, and get up close and personal with a stuffed buffalo. There is also a miniature train exhibit which is fascinating for children and adults alike.

Your visit to Jasper wouldn’t be complete without lunch or dinner at the Schnitzelbank German Restaurant which offers an amazing salad bar, wonderful fried chicken (and livers), and traditional German fare. You can even pick up a few German chotchkies in the gift shop or perhaps a genuine German cuckoo clock for your foyer.