One of the oldest communities in the state, Saint Louis was founded in 1845 when a Jesuit missionary, Reverend Aloysius Verecuysee, built a log church there for the early settlers.[2][3] Saint Louis parish was organized in 1847 with a resident priest and named for St. Louis, King of France.[2] It was the third parish organized in what is now the Archdiocese of Portland.[4] The Saint Louis Catholic Church, built in 1880 on the site of the original Saint Louis cemetery, is still in operation.[5][6] It is the oldest wooden church in the archdiocese.[4] The current Saint Louis cemetery is northwest of the church.[7] Saint Louis post office operated from 1860 until 1901; today Saint Louis has a Gervais mailing address.[2] At one time the community had a school and store.[3]