Hahs: The man behind the tower

Before Herman Loeffel moved to America, he lived in Baden, Lower Saxony, Germany. Born on April 18, 1874, he had fond memories of the Black Forest from his childhood. He spent a lot of time in the forest as his cousin, Henry Oswald, and he was responsible for picking up sticks to help fuel the family home.

One day his cousin, Henry, got into trouble with the game warden for chopping down a tree. To escape the authorities, Henry fled to America to become a successful contractor in St. Louis. He encouraged Herman to move also.

Learning the trade as stonemason in Germany, Herman set out on the adventure of leaving his family and homeland. After a rough sea voyage, he landed in New York in 1890. Only knowing a few words of English, Herman managed to find work as a construction stonemason on the Erie Canal.

He soon worked his way to the Midwest, working in Granite City and East St. Louis, Illinois, cutting stone for bridge abutments over creeks and rivers.

After a short time in Perryville, Herman met his future wife, Amalie Minnie Dewein. The couple was married on April 17, 1898, at St. Mary Catholic Seminary in Perryville. The Perry County Republican newspaper states, the witnesses were Mary McCauley and Charles Nenninger. A quiet supper followed at the Hooss Hotel, originally owned by Mary's grandparents and then owned by her father, John.

The couple moved to Cape Girardeau in 1902. Herman built their home at 501 Pearl St., which today's address is 650 N. Middle, after the street was changed.

The census of 1920 reveals the couple had eight children: Theresa Albertine, Harold, Charles, Genevieve, Frederick, Viola, Walter and Theresa Lena. Henry's World War I registration states his career as contractor stonemason in Cape Girardeau. He was the first contractor to use a steam concrete mixer in Southeast Missouri. He was officed in the H.-H. Building on Broadway. He also was the owner of the Lutesville Gravel Co.

During World War I, according to family information, he was very worried for his mother. She had been so helpful to him when he left home, packing his two valises with clothes and black bread and sausages. He attempted to send her money, but to his dismay it failed to reach her.

On April 12, 1915, Loeffel received his naturalization papers, of which he was very proud.

Herman Loeffel was an excellent stonemason in Cape Girardeau from 1902 until 1936. As a skilled craftsman of his trade, he left many buildings around the city for our citizens to enjoy. His expertise created the beautiful stone Centenary Methodist Church at North Ellis and Bellevue and a number of stone buildings on the Southeast Missouri University campus, including the razed Leming Hall. The Huhn -Harrison home on South Lorimier Street was built by Loeffel, as well as other homes throughout the city.

Lastly, before his death, he was contracted to build the stone tower at Cape County Memorial Park at 2315 U.S. 61. His son, Walter "Tex", helped him finish the unique edifice.

Herman Loeffel died of pneumonia at Saint Francis Hospital on Feb. 18, 1936, after several months of illness. Services were held at St. Mary's Catholic Church. He and his wife, Minnie, who died in 1947, are buried in the shadow of his stone tower. His epitaph reads, "The End and the Reward of Toil is Rest". Very fitting for a gentleman who knew a great deal about hard labor.

Beverly Hahs is a native of Cape Girardeau County, a freelance writer and graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with a degree in English and library science.