Missouri memoir: German settlers and dumpling costumes – in pictures

Christina Stohn travelled to New Offenburg in the US state of Missouri – where the first immigrants from the Black Forest arrived in the 1830s. In this image we see the living room of an 83-year-old woman in River aux Vases. In the centre is a handmade quilt for her 40th wedding anniversary. Below are two dolls dressed in traditional Black Forest costumes. All photographs: Christina Stohn. The series title Du, Du Liegsch Mir Im Herze is Badisch dialect and translates as ‘You, you are so close to my heart’. It is part of a group exhibition at Sprengel Museum Hannover, Germany, until 8 January

The immigrants left their country because of harvest failures in the previous decade which led to famine, economic hardship and political unrest. After government land was made available in Missouri for settlement, German families started farming. The area provided rivers for transportation, forests for hunting and hills for vineyards. It may have reminded them of their homeland. This photographic series was supported by the Ministry for Science, Research and the Arts Baden-Württemberg. The project has been shortlisted for the Vonovia award

Robert Mueller, a local historian, dressed up as a farmer with a black hat. This was clothing typical of the Black Forest, worn by his Badisch ancestors who immigrated to Ste Genevieve in the 1830s

Goblins are considered to be patron saints of their garden. At the entrance of Oberle Meats, a butcher’s shop in Ste Genevieve, visitors are greeted by a special garden goblin: a spotted pig

Bill Naeger, whose great-great-grandfather emigrated from the Black Forest, is a former chairperson of the German Days festival in Ste Genevieve. Here, he is dressed up as a mascot called Oliver Dumpling. The costume was made by Hilda Kraenzle specifically for the festival in 2000, representing a ‘liver knaefli’ (dumpling). Every family has their own closely guarded recipe and contests were held during the festival to determine who makes the best

Liver knaeflies, traditionally served with brown gravy, have been voted as a favourite/signature dish in Ste Genevieve restaurants or at church picnics in the area. Here, they are part of the Sunday lunch buffet at the Old Brick House restaurant

The family-run Oberle Meats, established in 1870, still sells sausages using the same recipe as in their founding years. This is Adam Oberle, one of the present owners. Together with his brother Stephen, they are the sixth generation running the meat market, established by the German immigrant Joseph Oberle in the 1870s

In the middle of 450 acres of land, German shepherd Bandit sits by some old barns and a silo, keenly protecting his home. This Missouri Century Farm, located between New Offenburg and Zell, has been in the same family since 1837

In the rural area of Ste Genevieve County, faith and family are the centre of life. In Zell, there is a statue of the Virgin Mary placed next to the playground of the Catholic St Joseph School

The cemetery next to Our Lady Help of Christians church in Weingarten, Missouri. Some of the original headstones are inscribed in German; they mark the final resting place of many former immigrants. Between the graves an American flag is flown in memory of all deceased veterans of the parish who served in foreign wars

A painting of Jesus Christ, by eight-year-old Akiane Kramarik, mounted at the St Joseph School in Zell, which promotes Christian-centred education. In the new settlements, German language schools and church services were common; newspapers and books were circulated bilingually in both German and English until the first world war. In the surrounding area, anti-German sentiment rose, resulting in discrimination. As a consequence of problems with keeping their German identity, many names have been anglicised and immigrant families preferred to speak American English

Nowadays Ste Genevieve County is a family-orientated community with active religious parishes. As well as English, some older descendants of the first immigrants speak and sing Badisch, which is still a common dialect in Baden-Württemberg in Germany. However, it is no longer spoken by younger people in the community

Paul, a retired technician and photographer, in his sunroom. The 79-year-old poses below a male whitetail deer that he shot about 22 years ago. His family cuts, processes, seasons and smokes the meat themselves

Brynna, a 17-year-old student at the Ste Genevieve High School, in her prom dress on the afternoon before the dance. This year’s Hollywood theme brought a glamorous feel to Audobon’s restaurant

The Midway Bar & Grill in Weingarten, Missouri. The rustic atmosphere invites customers to enjoy a cold beer and traditional American cuisine after a successful day of hunting, a popular hobby in the area

A sign for the Trump campaign, stating Keeping America Great, is fixed to a chicken shed in Ste Genevieve County. The date 2020 has been amended to 2024

Along Highway 32, a billboard advertises Kammermann’s Pest Control. The company’s logo is displayed below a part of the American flag as well as the national motto ‘In God We Trust’

Again on Highway 32, a digital billboard displays an advert for the National Shrine in Perryville, Missouri. According to its operator, it is seen by 25,340 travellers a week