On the 5th of January 1878, the colony of Santa María de Hinojo was founded in the Partido de Olavarría of Buenos Aires Province, about 35 kilometers south of Azul. This was the first Volga German settlement in Argentina. The first settlement group consisted of eight families and three unmarried individuals who arrived by train from the port in Buenos Aires. The colony was originally called Kamenka after the colony from which the founding settlers came. However, it was officially Santa María de Hinojo which was simplified to Hinojo over time. Hinojo translates to "fennel" in English. The colony was successful and following a conflict with a neighboring colony of French immigrants, Hinojo was moved to its present location.
Among those early settlers were:
Andreas (Andrés) Fischer
Georg (Jorge) Fischer
Joseph (José) Kissler
Michael (Miguel) Kissler
Andreas (Andrés) Kissler
Peter (Pedro) Pollak
Joseph (José) Simon
Johann (Juan) Schamber
Jakob (Jacobo) Schwindt
Leonard (Leonardo) Schwindt
The Catholic parish in Hinojo is "Nuestra Señora de la Asunción" ("Our Lady of the Assumption").
The following Volga German families settled in Hinojo:
Fischer from Kamenka
Kissler from Kamenka
Pollak from Kamenka
Simon from Kamenka
Schamber from Kamenka
Schwindt from Kamenka
Hinojo Cemetery (Alemanes del Wolga en Argentina)
Colonia Hinojo (Wikipedia) - in Spanish
The church of Colonia Hinojo at sunset. The architecture of the church is very similar to the design of the church in Kamenka, Russia - the original home of the first settlers.
Source: Gerardo Waimann.
One of ten stained glass windows made in Germany and donated by the first settlers.
Source: Gerardo Waimann.
"Cross of the Request" with Gerardo Waimann, his wife and children. In the past, each November, the women of the colony walked to this site to pray for a good harvest.
Source: Gerardo Waimann.
Partial view of the cemetery in Hinojo (2007).
Source: Gerardo Waimann.
The Volga German Memorial in Colonia Hinojo.
Source: Gerardo Waimann.
Parade of the Volga Germans descendants during the 130th anniversary celebration on January 5, 2008.
Source: Gerardo Waimann.
Dedication from the Adam Weimann family who donated one vitraux (stained glass window) to the Colonia Hinojo church. The glass was made in Germany.
Source: Gerardo Waimann.
Detail view of the Volga German Memorial in Colonia Hinojo.
Source: Gerardo Waimann.
Memorial on the site of the first location of Colonia Hinojo which is 3 kilometers from the current position of the town. The inscription on the stone is: "Colonia Hinojo 1878 - 2008 - First German settlement in Argentina"
Source: Gerardo Waimann.
Above - three old Volga German houses in Colonia Hinojo (2008).
Source: Gerardo Waimann.
Parish house in Colonia Hinojo (2008).
Source: Gerardo Waimann.
Volga German club in Colonia Hinojo (2008).
Source: Gerardo Waimann.