Maria Stein, Ohio
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Maria Stein (German, "Mary's Stone") is an unincorporated community in central Marion Township, Mercer County, Ohio, United States. The town and surrounding area currently has approximately 2,200 residents.[citation needed]
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[edit] History
[edit] Notable Features
It is located in the heart of the portion of southern Mercer and Auglaize counties that has been named the "land of the cross-tipped churches". [1] In this region each town has a substantial church, most commonly constructed by immigrant German craftsmen in the mid- to late nineteenth century and characterized by a steeple topped with a cross. The churches in Minster, St. Henry, and Maria Stein are the largest examples [2], but others are found in St. Rose, Casella, St. Sebastian, Osgood, and other towns.
A second notable feature of Maria Stein is the Shrine of the Holy Relics. Relics include body parts (usually bones) from saints or objects that belonged to a saint. They are held in high respect because they represent individuals who have led exemplary lives. Father Francis de Sales Brunner, the missionary who led the "Precious Blood" order of priests, was a collector of relics. He was responsible for the first collection of relics in Maria Stein. During the 19th century other relics were added to the core collection as a way of protecting them from the continuous strife of 19th century Italy. In 1892 a separate "relic chapel" was established in which Sisters of the Precious Blood conducted a continuous vigil. The collection of relics is the second largest in the United States.
The Sacred Heart Relic Chapel is a kaleidoscope of color, 18th and 19th century German carving, and relics distributed throughout. The "relic chapel" is connected to a larger chapel that is the central feature of an interesting 19th century brick convent. A recent segment on National Public Radio describes this unique collection of relics. [3] These relics include a splinter of the true cross and a splinter of bone from St. Peregrine, the patron saint of patients with cancer. The Shrine was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The Heritage Museum on the second floor of the convent showcases life during the early years of the community. [4] Even today southern Mercer County is predominantly Catholic, a reflection of 19th century immigration patterns. [5] As such, the community is served by three parishes which include St. John's along with Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Casella and St. Rose located to the west in the rural community of the same name.
A third notable feature is architecture of Marion Township and the surrounding region. The region is characterized by 80-160 acre farms laid out in the characteristic one-half-mile grid divided by four in which the house and barn characteristically sit somewhere in the middle of each eighth or quarter mile section. The farmhouses demonstrate several unique styles that show their Germanic roots. Farms are neat and orderly and indicative of the organization and prosperity of the largely German-derived population. A German dialect, traced by linguist Professor Wolfgang Fleischauer of Ohio State University to northwest Germany (almost Dutch), is still spoken by many members of the community. Although the cuisine of the region, once solidly German, has succumbed to the homogenization of modern America, it is still possible to find German sausages, potato salad, beets and pickles and other delicacies if one searches diligently. The Maria Stein region also boasts one of the last remaining outdoor cinemas in Ohio, the Starlite Drive-In located west of the community at the State Route 119/U.S. Route 127 junction between Casella and St. Henry.
A "healing field" consisting of flags and a Twin Towers monument depicting the World Trade Center was on display on September 11, 2006 in an open field adjacent to the Shrine and Spiritual Center to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks.
The following year a 50 foot (15.4m) stainless steel cross was erected on a small island near the field and Spiritual Center which was dedicated on Sunday September 9, 2007. The island and field is the site of the yearly Fatima USA prayer gathering which takes place in August where an outdoor Mass is concelebrated by several local priests followed by a group recitation of the Holy Rosary and candlelight vigil commemorating the 1917 Marian apparations of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal. Both events were broadcast on radio and the internet by Radio Maria USA on local station WHJM.
In late June each year the town hosts the Maria Stein Country Fest [6], a weekend event that celebrates the rural and religious roots of this small community. The fest is held on the grounds of the Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics. The highlight of the event is tractor square dancing, an event in which 4 pairs of tractors participate in a precise replica of a square dance. Other events during the 3-day weekend include: Antique Garden Tractor Pulls, Mini-Indy race, Chainsaw wood carving, Rides, Punt - Pass - Kick Competition, Volleyball, Bean Bag, & 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament, Diaper Derby, and a 5K run. There are also religious overtones with a pilgrimage from St. John's Catholic Church, a quarter mile away, to the relic chapel grounds. This is a colorful march with participation by the Knights of St John, an ancient uniformed religious guard, and members of the American Legion celebrating the history and culture of the region.
In 1899, Joseph Oppenheim, the inventor of the first mechanized manure spreader, established the New Idea Spreader works in Maria Stein. He and his son-in-law, Henry Synck, also a resident of Maria Stein, subsequently moved New Idea to Coldwater, Ohio. New Idea[1], once owned by Avco, continues to prosper as a part of a larger conglomerate now known as AGCO.
Maria Stein is also home to Marion Local High School, part of the Marion Local school district whose students come from an extremely large geographic area in comparison to other local school districts in the area, including students from as far away as Auglaize County and the town of Osgood, Ohio, in Darke County.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Land of the Cross-tipped Churches
- ^ Cleveland.comLand of the Cross-tipped Churches
- ^ npr 24 Dec 07
- ^ http://www.phonyexpress.com/mariasteincenter/pages/mscheritagemuseum.html
- ^ Cleveland/com
- ^ 20th Annual Maria Stein Country Fest
[edit] External links
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