Pfeifer (Gnilushka), (Пфейфер),
a Volga German Roman Catholic colony founded on the right bank of the Ilava River and Öst "Wiesenseite" or east "meadow side" of the Volga River on 15 June 1767 by the Government as a Roman Catholic colony. Pfeifer is 117 versts from the provincial capital of Saratov, 65 versts from the district capital of Kamyshin, and 6 versts from the local administrative center of Kamenka.
Founded: 15th of June 1767
Location: 50º39' N 45º24' E (Russia)
From the beginning of the colony, there was parochial education available in Pfeifer. The students were taught reading, writing, and religion by a local schoolmaster under the supervision of the parish priest. In 1888, a government school was also constructed in the colony.
From 1860-1864, 23 families resettled to daughter colonies in the Samara Province. Between 1877 and 1886, 64 families immigrated to South America.
In 1846, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Pfeifer was built of wood in a neoclassic style. The building contained a high altar, side altars and an organ that came from the South Tyrol. The upper half of the interior walls was whitewashed whereas the lower half was finished in light blue.
The ornate wood carvings of the baroque high altar and side altars were finished in white, heavenly blue and gold. The statues were highlighted in gold.
Pfeifer became an independent Catholic parish in 1871. Previously, the parishioners belonged to St. Mary's Catholic Church in Kamenka where there was a priest as well as a church for worship.
The Church of St. Francis of Assisi is no longer standing.
Pfeifer colony village webpages:
https://web.archive.org/web/20010517173351/http://www.webbitt.com/volga/pfeifer/
Pfeifer - A Volga Colony, Rosemary Larson, village coordinator
https://www.volgagerman.net/pfeifer-russia
American Historical Society of Germans From Russia (AHSGR), Rosemary Larson, village coordinator
http://cvgs.cu-portland.edu/settlements/mother_colonies/colony_pfeifer.cfm
The Center for Volga German Studies at Concordia University
http://lexikon.wolgadeutsche.net/search/result?query=pfeifer (in Russian)
wolgadeutsche.net · Alexander Spack, Rußland
https://pfeifervillage.com/index.html
Darryl Boyd's website pfeifervillage.com with Census extracts
Pfeifer settlers & residents (profiles list)
return to Volga German Project
