Ora Labora was known as the“Christian German Agricultural and Benevolent Society of Ora et Labora” (Pray and Work). Members could combine work with prayer and live according to the Methodist Church Discipline. Established on the shores of Michigan’s Wild Fowl Bay in 1861. The colony was located near the town of Bay Port, Michigan.
The colony operated until 1867. After which time, lands reverted to individual families or were sold to pay for the colony’s debt. Not a trace of the town remains today.
Initial research on Ora Labora is credited to Florence McKinnon Gwinn of Caseville. In 1922, she published an article entitled “A Community Experiment” in the book Pioneer History of Huron County, Michigan. Huron County Pioneer and Historical Society published it. It provided an overview of the colony and is considered the starting point for most researchers on the topic.
In April of 2020, Hamilton College published American Communal Societies Quarterly an article entitled; The “Christian German Agricultural and Benevolent Society of Ora et Labora” by Dr. Walter A. Brumm provided an examination of the major reasons that Ora et Labora failed to thrive. The article also offers an excellent list of sources about the Thumb colony. The publication also contains a manuscript containing a brief history of the colony written by founder Emil Baur. Baur offered his own reasons for the colony’s demise.
Part III of the Ora Labora story brings us to 1864. The rapid growth of the colony was costly and the society needs funds to grow. It was time for drastic measures. The raging war in the south was turning in the North’s favor and the colony was on borrowed time until the draft took effect.
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Part IV of the Ora Labora starts during Christmas 1864. The Colonies funds and provisions are low and its leader Emil Baur is begging his benefactors for loans to make it through the winter. With the war in its closing days the colonist are hopeful that a risky new venture will be profitable.
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