Paul Dobberstein
Encyclopedia
Paul Matthias Dobberstein (September 21, 1872 – July 24, 1954) was a German American
priest
and architect
.
Dobberstein was born in Rosenfeld, Germany
to Francis "Frank" Dobberstein and Julia Froehlich.
Father Dobberstein was educated at the University of Deutsch-Krone in Germany and at the St. Francis Seminary, in St. Francis, Wisconsin
. He was ordained on June 30, 1897.
His most famous work, however, is the Grotto of the Redemption
, in West Bend, Iowa
, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City
. This is actually a series of several connected grottoes. At the neighboring church of Saints Peter and Paul, he also created a fountain and, inside, a majestic nativity scene.
Father Dobberstein's works inspired Mathias Wernerus (who also attended St. Francis Seminary) to build the Dickeyville Grotto
in Dickeyville, Wisconsin
in 1930, thus starting the grotto building movement in America.
German American
German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
.
Dobberstein was born in Rosenfeld, Germany
Rosenfeld, Germany
Rosenfeld is a town in the Zollernalbkreis district, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 10 km west of Balingen....
to Francis "Frank" Dobberstein and Julia Froehlich.
Father Dobberstein was educated at the University of Deutsch-Krone in Germany and at the St. Francis Seminary, in St. Francis, Wisconsin
St. Francis, Wisconsin
St. Francis is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2000 census, its population was 8,662. It is the smallest incorporated city in Milwaukee County.-Geography:St. Francis is located at ....
. He was ordained on June 30, 1897.
Grottoes
He is known for designing and building a series of religious grottoes:- Sacred Heart Church: Sioux City, IowaSioux City, IowaSioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
- Immaculate Conception Grotto: Carroll, IowaCarroll, Iowa-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,103 in the city, with a population density of . There were 4,698 housing units, of which 4,357 were occupied....
(now gone) - Franciscan Convent: Dubuque, IowaDubuque, IowaDubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
- Shrine in the St. Rose of Viterbo ConventSt. Rose of Viterbo ConventSt. Rose of Viterbo Convent is the mother house of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in La Crosse, Wisconsin in the Diocese of La Crosse. The convent was dedicated to Rose of Viterbo. The Franciscan Sisters moved into the convent in 1871....
of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual AdorationFranciscan Sisters of Perpetual AdorationThe Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration is a Roman Catholic religious congregation for women whose motherhouse, St. Rose of Viterbo Convent, is in La Crosse, Wisconsin in the Diocese of La Crosse. The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration founded Viterbo University and staffed Aquinas...
: La Crosse, WisconsinLa Crosse, WisconsinLa Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...
(now gone) - Catholic Cemetery: Wesley, IowaWesley, IowaWesley is a city in Kossuth County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 467.-Geography:Wesley is located at ....
- John Brown Park: Humboldt, IowaHumboldt, IowaHumboldt is a city in Humboldt County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,690 at the 2010 census, gaining 238 people since the 2000 census.- History :...
His most famous work, however, is the Grotto of the Redemption
Grotto of the Redemption
The Grotto of the Redemption is a religious monument located in West Bend, Iowa, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City. A conglomeration of nine grottos depicting scenes in life of Jesus, the Grotto contains a large collection of minerals and petrifications and is believed to be the largest...
, in West Bend, Iowa
West Bend, Iowa
West Bend is a city in Kossuth and Palo Alto Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 834 at the 2000 census.-Geography:West Bend is located at ....
, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City
Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City is the Roman Catholic diocese for the northwestern quarter of the state of Iowa, US The diocese comprises 24 counties in northwestern Iowa, and it covers an area of ....
. This is actually a series of several connected grottoes. At the neighboring church of Saints Peter and Paul, he also created a fountain and, inside, a majestic nativity scene.
Father Dobberstein's works inspired Mathias Wernerus (who also attended St. Francis Seminary) to build the Dickeyville Grotto
Dickeyville Grotto
The Dickeyville Grotto is a series of grottos and shrines in Dickeyville, Wisconsin, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Madison, in Grant County, Wisconsin, United States. The site is visited by 40,000 to 60,000 visitors per year. It is located at the intersection of U.S...
in Dickeyville, Wisconsin
Dickeyville, Wisconsin
Dickeyville is a village in Grant County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,043 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Dickeyville is located at ....
in 1930, thus starting the grotto building movement in America.