R-M staff
Monday, August 28, was a banner day for the citizens of Perry County. SB127 and SB139 were both signed into law by Missouri Governor Mike Parson. These bills each included HB200 naming Perry County as part of the official German Corridor recognized by the State of Missouri. You may have thought that Perry County was already part of Missouri’s German Corridor, but Monday’s signing made it official.
Perry County is home to several German immigrations. The early 1800s found Perry County to be a place that resembled Germany’s landscape which drew several groups to the area for settlement. Immigrants arrived from Saxony, Baden, and Bavaria among others to make Perry County their home. Churches and schools were among the first buildings built. Today, our county still embraces a rich tie to our German Heritage and church affiliations.
To accomplish this task, several individuals and groups worked to offer the research and needed information to show that Perry County did indeed deserve a place on the German Corridor. Many thanks to the countless people who worked to make sure that Perry County would be recognized as a part of the state’s German history. For a bit, the project had been tabled, but when Carla Grebing, former Director of the Lutheran Heritage Center, found out that Perry County was not a recognized part of the Corridor, she got busy along with Trish Erzfeld, Perry County’s Heritage Tourism Director, and along with the previous hard work and additional resources, were able to present the information to Representative Rick Francis for submittal of HB200 to the state house. Once it passed the state house, it went to the Senate for approval.
The German Heritage Corridor was originally signed into law in July of 2016 and stretches from St. Louis to Indian Grove, Missouri. It connects those communities along scenic byways, showcasing their specific German heritage and creates a corridor designed to increase tourism in the region. The German Heritage Corridor emphasizes the past and present influence of the German heritage of Missouri. Through the signing of SB127 and SB139 Perry County can officially boast its place on Missouri’s German Corridor.
For further information please contact Trish Erzfeld, Director of the Perry County Heritage Tourism.
