News & Events
Bethel Colony Spring Market
Join us in Historic Downtown Bethel in 2024 for the Bethel Colony Spring Market, April 20-21 Admission $2 Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 10am-3pm . The Colony Barn and grounds will be filled with artisans, craftsmen, and vendors offering a variety of goods for sale:...
Annual Meeting
The Historic Bethel German Colony annual meeting will be held on Sunday, March 3, 2024, 4:00pm at the Fest Hall Restaurant in Bethel. The agenda is shown below. . Your RSVP will help us plan for food -- please phone the Fest Hall at 660-284-6493. We welcome current...
2024 Events in Bethel
Join us for these events in Bethel for 2024: March 3 - Annual Meeting April 20-21 - Bethel Spring Market June 9-14 - Youth Fiddle Camp August 24 - Wildlife & Outdoor Expo Sept. 27 - Bethel Heritage Day Sept. 28-29 - Bethel Fall Market Oct. 9-11 - Adult Fiddle Camp...
Our History
Membership was about 650 in 1855 when Keil, fearing Bethel too subject to outside influence, led a group west and established Aurora Colony in Oregon. Their expedition over the Oregon Trail is unique for it was conducted as a funeral cortege. Keil’s son, Willie, died before he realized his father’s promise to lead the group and was carried instead in the head wagon in a metal box, alcohol-filled. After six months and over 2000 miles, he was buried at Willapa, Washington.
Keil never returned to Bethel, directing affairs there by letter. When the colonies disbanded, 1879-1881, they held property in common valued at $109,806. Bethel supplied $64,328 of this and owned 4267 acres.