🕯😇 KRUPP HOLY HOUSE: Inscription on the stone slab that is set into the gable of the Krupp Holy House: THIS HOLY HOUSE WAS OWNED BY JACOB VR KRUPP AND MARIA NEE HERSCH BACHS AN EARLY HOUSE (FRA) V ZV(R) ER GOTES LA(S)D AVFRICHTEN IN THE YEAR 1785 WHICH PASSES HERE REMEMBERING THE LAST JUDGMENT SO IT WILL REMAIN FOREVER IN CH. VND.... ....THE POOR SOULS
Jakob Krupp and Maria née Herschbach, his wife, had this shrine built in the honor of God in 1785. Whoever passes by here should think of the Last Judgement, and he will be eternally in Christ and in the poor souls.
The legend of "Krupp's shrine"... The old Krupp, who had looked after the Heimbach-Weiser sheep for many years, built it there.
Once again he had gone up the slopes into the forest with his flock of sheep. The sun was burning from the sky, so that even here in the forest the refreshing coolness had almost disappeared. The mosquitoes buzzed and hummed and stung like never before. The sheep were so restless, and Lotte, his faithful dog, had a lot to do. His red tongue hung out of his throat. Panting and suffering from thirst, he chased the flock. The weather-savvy shepherd had already looked up at the sky several times and murmured: "Today there's going to be weather!" The sky had become increasingly covered with yellowish, shiny clouds in the direction of Saynbach. Here and there a rumbling could be heard. "We're getting a bit of rain, we're going into the thick of it," said the shepherd to his dog. The dog's intelligent eyes showed that he had understood. He quickly drove the herd together and further into the forest. The storm came closer and the treetops closer. Storm gusts made everyone tremble. Frightened cries of birds, the restless trampling of the herd, here and there the frightened whining of the dog indicated the coming turmoil of the elements. The old shepherd looked worriedly up at the sky. Then the first heavy drops of rain splashed through the canopy of leaves. A mighty gust of wind!
Branches crashed to the ground. A yellow flash of lightning flashed, followed by a mighty clap of thunder and a rain such as the old shepherd had never experienced in his 60 years of existence. The animals stood closely around him. With their heads bowed, they endured the terrible storm, the rain beating down on their backs.
Anxiously, Lotte sought protection from her master, who was holding on to a small tree with one hand and leaning on his shepherd's staff with the other, while the water poured down on him in torrents. The weather became more and more terrible. Mass amounts of water rushed in from one side and washed over people and animals. The shepherd had to watch helplessly as the water rose higher. The young ones were already up to their bodies, and the storm was getting stronger. If it lasted much longer, they would be lost. The shepherd became frightened. His trembling lips prayed quietly and in his heart he vowed: "If I am saved with my flock, I will build you a shrine here, Queen of Heaven. Help! Help! Mother of God!!!
There, was he mistaken, or was it real? The terrible downpour subsided. The storm slowly died down. The storm passed with a dull rumble. Saying quiet prayers of thanks, the shepherd splashed through the water and led his animals up a small hill. Only now did he realize the magnitude of the danger he had been in and with a rejoicing heart he thanked the Mother of God for his miraculous rescue.
After returning home safely, he kept his promise and built the "Krupps shrine" in the forest, which was named after him.