Sunday, November 2, 2014

Painting

I painted this picture of the town the way it was when the mill was there. Not one of my better efforts. I was going to donate it to the museum after I put it in a show but someone bought it. So I'm putting it on here. Feel free to download it.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Updates

Reservations are almost filled for the Christmas dinners. A few spaces remain for Sunday.

We have been calling our turkey "Williamsburg Tavern" for 40 years but someone noticed and we've been told we can't call it that because there already is a business with that name.

The sidewalk along Elm has been fixed and leveled.

Jim Rosengarten cleaned and framed 2 bridge signs that have been hanging in the barn for ever. They will be on display somewhere soon. There are pictures on our Facebook page.

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Fort Loramie facts

* In the early 1900's there was a Dr. Pepper in Fort Loramie.

* The first person in Fort Loramie to graduate from high school was Helen Walkup, the daughter of Dr. Walkup.  The second was Marie Quinlin.

* Dances, plays and basketball games were held on the second floor of Brucken's.
 
* One of the largest bur oak trees used to stand on the Prenger farm on Schmitmeyer-Baker Road.  When it was cut down because of disease the rings were counted and it was estimated to be between 350 and 375 years old.  It was 95 feet tall.

* Low German or Plattdeutsch, is the language English evolved from.

* Fort Loramie was called Berlin by the early German settlers although the post office was still known as Loramie's.  In 1911 the name of the town was changed to Fort Loramie.

* Lake Loramie was called the Loramie Reservoir and was built to supply water to the canal.

* There are no natural lakes in Ohio except Lake Erie.  All are man-made.

* There were once 124 one-room schools in Shelby County.

* Agnes Messman whose family lived in northern McLean Township joined the circus and had 3 husbands.  The second one was Wild Bill Hickock.

* The children who went to St. Patrick's School were given St. Patrick's Day off every year.

* Fort Loramie is the highest point between Cincinnati and Toledo.  It was known as the Loramie Summit and was a portage between the St. Marys River and Loramie Creek.

* On August 16, 1889 an ordinance passed by the town council made it illegal to play baseball inside the town limits.

* French trader, Peter Loramie, built his store here in 1769 and it was burned down by Gen. George Rogers Clark in 1783.

* In June of 1912 the town council in a special meeting passed an ordinance under which cars and motorcycles could not be driven more than 8 miles an hour inside the town limits.

* Romie Sporting Goods has been in the same family for over 100 years and began by repairing horse harness equipment.

* Starting in the summer of 1938 the merchants provided free talking picture shows on the west bank of the canal every Friday at 8:30 pm.

* Militant prohibitionist, Carrie Nation's first husband Dr. Charles Gloyd lived in Newport.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

                          The Greenville Treaty Line committee. There are more photos on our Facebook page.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Photo

                                         Hay bales East of town.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Updates

Don't forget the Greenville Treaty Line and Sycamore Tree dedication Sept. 28 at 1 pm in the elementary school. The museum will be open for those who may not want to walk out to the monument.

Many came to see the artifacts from the Fleckenstein Farm at German Heritage Days.
Monty Mercer of Englewood, was the winner of a copy of our book "Main Street and Beyond".

Anyone wanting to help out with the Christmas dinners this year call Alice Barhorst at 937-295-3553.  You may help as much or as little as you wish. We need people to hang greenery, fold napkins, set tables, and many other things. Some of us won't be able to help this year.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

It happened in September

On September 2, 1927 a meeting was held in the township hall for the purpose of getting better telephone service.

September 7, 1934 the Herman Gaier grocery was shut down.

     The Basinburg schoolhouse was sold at public sale to George Dues of Newport for $210

     Ed Larger broke his arm cranking his car.

On September 12, 1930, WJ Borchers sold his filling station to Aloysius Ernst.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Updates

Greg Shipley, who has been excavating the fort site on the Fleckenstein farm will be in our tent at Heritage Days on Friday evening the 19th to display some of the artifacts he and his crew have uncovered.

The Ft. Loramie School Wall of Honor Induction ceremony will be held 21 Sept. at 2 pm in the high school gym. Shirley Larger, Irene Boerger, Jeffrey Hoying will be the new inductees.

If you would like to help out with the Christmas dinners contact Alice Barhorst at 937-295-2659.

More information on events can be found on our Facebook page.

Friday, August 22, 2014

Hay

      Stacking hay in the 1930's

August updates

Come to Canal Park for German Heritage Days September 19 and 20. German food, beer, a car show, music, Kegs & Kraut 5K, and the Historical Association tent are some of the entertainments. If you would like to help by sitting for an hour or two in the tent on Friday evening or Saturday afternoon let someone know.

Ft. Loramie Community garage sales will take place September 12 and 13.

The 32nd Fall Festival at Lake Loramie State Park will be held September 12 to 14. Craft booths, music and antique tractors are some of the attractions.

http://www.fortloramie.com/


The Greenville Treaty Line & Sycamore Tree dedication will be held in the elementary school September 28 at 1 pm.  The event will move to the Gigandet Farm afterward weather permitting.

The archaological dig on the Fleckenstein Farm by Greg Shipley and some trained volunteers has found some interesting things. They would like to establish the footprint of Gen. Wayne's fort. There is more about this on our Facebook page. Click on the picure to see the whole newspaper article. Some of the artifacts may be on display in the history tent at German Heritage Days. There is also more information on events.

The museum is open 2 more Sundays but if you can't get here we can accomodate you some other time.

Plans are already being made for this year's Christmas dinners. If you didn't get a letter and want to attend contact Dorothy Quinlin at 937-295-2659.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

It happened in August

In 1912 Willman's Department Store was destroyed by fire . They leased temporary quarters in the Tecklenburg Hotel for groceries and in the Knights of St. John Hall for dry goods. A new store opened in November 1913.

In 1931 Bertha Larger established a beauty parlor in Mrs. Clara Hasebrook's residence.

In 1934 concrete was being poured for the new spillway at the lake.

In 1936 an oil well was being drilled on the Ben Zircher farm near Newport. According to Larry Monroe, "The storage tank for that oil well on the Zircher farm was still standing in the 50's when the school bus dropped off the 3 Zircher kids. I'm fairly sure the well was no longer producing but the tank was there. At that time there was still some gas production from area wells".


In 1943 a storm dropped between 4 and 6 inches of rain on the area filling basements and destroying some crops. It was said to be the worst flooding since the 1913 flood.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Lake event photo


June updates

The weather was perfect for Liberty Days on July 4th and 5th. Besides the usual games, rides and events, Ken Sowards read the Declaration of Independance and Maddie Geise sang the National Anthem.

The joint event at the lake by Fort Loramie Historical, Minster Historical and the Lake Heritage Museum was a huge success. Around 50 people sat down to the program MC'd by Bob Lammers. 85 visitors took advantage of the free pontoon boat rides. Irene Doenges played the keyboard and there was a lot of interest in the artifacts and photos. See pictures on our Facebook page.

The Lake Loramie Heritage Museum will be shutting down. The building is ancient and the plumbing has deteriorated. The state doesn't deem it worth fixing and if there isn't a working bathroom visitors can't be allowed in.

There are plans to rebuild the spillway at the lake next year. You can find information here:

http://engineering.ohiodnr.gov/current-projects/lake-loramie-dam

They don't mention that the original dam was made of wood and was replaced in the 30's with the current dam.

Plans to re-landscape canal park and install a gazebo have been postponed until next year due to this year's unusually wet weather.

German Heritage Days will be held  Sept. 19 & 20 in the canal park. If you would like to help out by sitting at the history tent contact me. Usually 2 people at a time are necessary and you can sign up for just an hour or 2 if you want. All you have to do is sell books and you won't be alone.. Saturday afternoon is usually the busiest time. Music, good food and beer are available.

A member of the country group, Florida Georgia Line, put a camera on his motorcycle and made this music video riding through the concert grounds and the village.

http://vimeo.com/100554644


We got a message from Marge Jones.

Thank you so much for remembering and honoring my dad, Albert, and Uncle Karl.  They just don't make those kind of folks anymore.  We miss them terribly,  along with Aunt Elsie Van Oss who died just two weeks before Dad.  Each of them loved their family, Ft. Loramie and preserving its history.



Greenville Treaty event

Sept. 28 at 1 pm a ceremony will be held commemorating the Greenville Treaty Line and Sycamore Tree Dedication. The event will be in the elementary school at 35 Elm St.

Speakers will be

Ken Sowards on the impact the treaty had on our nation

Dr. Steven Littleton on Native American History before the treaty

Greg Shipley on the archaological discoveries on the Fleckenstein Farm 

James Williams on surveyor, Israel Ludlow.

Immediately following, the celebration will move to the Gigandet Farm at 2770 SR 705, the point where the line was marked by a sycamore tree in 1796. The line marked the division between the tribal lands to the north and the settlers to the south.

Thursday, July 3, 2014

                            HAPPY FOURTH of JULY

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Outdoor Adventures at Lake Loramie

This joint event by Fort Loramie Historical, Minster Historical Society and Lake Loramie Heritage will be held July 12 from 1 to 5 at Earl's Island Pavilion. Annual free pontoon boat rides will be a part of this event. Also a display of lake related artifacts, old photos, a slide show and music by Irene Doenges.

At 3:30 there will be a special program, "Lake Stories and Tall Tales". Master of Ceremony will be Bob Lammers. Come and share your own experiences.

Updates

The Main Street Book has been reprinted in paperback and is available at the museum or the Silver Cross. 

Our ancient kitchen faucets have been replaced by Jim Rosengarten with some help from Don Gusching. Tom Busse has been painting and repairing. It's so nice to have people who know how to do things like this.

The ceremony to place the monument to commemorate the Greenville Treaty Line will be held in September. The date still isn't set.

Books for sale

 Follow the Blue Blazes, by Robert Pond is a guide to hiking Ohio's Buckeye Trail. He lays out the chapters by areas of the state with featured hikes and maps.  He also has advice on safety, packing and local contacts. Everything you need to know. The blue blazes are markings on trees that show the way.


Louis Lorimier in the American Revolution, 1777-1782, introduction, translation and commentary by Paul L. Stevens. The memoirs of Peter Loramie, French-Canadian trader for whom Ft. Loramie is named.

Annals of St. Michaels, by Rev. Wilhelm Bigot who was pastor here between 1874 and 1905. He built the current church and was very interested in local history. This is from his writings which were done in German in 1903 and translated  by Pauline Ernst Seger in 1976. There is a description of the building of the church and who donated what. Also a lot on village businesses of the time.

Turp and Eb, by Albert Freytag consists of his memories and those of his friend Turp (Urban) Raterman. It's all about their youthful experiences in and around Ft. Loramie and the people they knew.

Events

Fort Loramie Liberty Days July 4th and 5th. Rides, food and fireworks.

The Chamber of Commerce is offering gift certificates that are redeemable at participating chamber businesses. Call 937-295-3813.

Don't forget the Farmers Market held every Friday 3-7 until the end of September in the canal park. They have a Facebook page.

The Country Concert will be held July 10, 11, and 12 in Newport. 

Monday, May 26, 2014

Kroger's Rewards program

If you are signed up for Kroger's Rewards program it's time to sign up again. We have 20 people now and we have received donations from Krogers. All you need is a rewards card, an internet connection and an email address. You don't have to have a computer. You can get a relative to sign you up for an email address. This is for the Cincinnati region. if you live elsewhere you can't help us.

We are registered with Kroger's as Fort Loramie Historical Association Inc. #83201. If you need help contact Jim Rosengarten at 937-295-3998.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Lake photo


Annual meeting

The annual meeting was held in the museum May 15. A memorial service was held for recently deceased members, Karl and Albert Freytag, Norman Paulus and Kathryn Wise Highley.   Refreshments were served after the meeting and an enjoyable discussion followed. We will do this every year and if enough people come we would like to have a speaker.

Tom and Jan Busse have donated 16 new chairs to be used for the Christmas dinners.

The Wilderness Trail Museum will be open Sunday afternoons from 1-4 starting June 1. We have 10 rooms of artifacts and photos from the wars, native Americans, the pioneers and immigrants. We have materials for genealogy research. Admission is free so stop in and visit.

 The trees along Main St. In Canal Park were cut down recently. It was necessary because they were ash and the ash borer has been a problem for several years. Canal Park will be re-landscaped and a gazebo will be built. It is hoped it will be finished by German Heritage Days in the fall.

Don't forget the Farmers Market in Canal Park in Ft. Loramie, Fridays, 3-7, May 9-Sept. 26, For information call 937-295-2907.

The Lake Loramie Heritage Museum is open Saturdays 1-3. It's in the old park office across the road from the swimming beach. Visit and see artifacts and pictures related to the various landings on the lake.

 On Saturday, July 12, spend an afternoon at Earl's Island Pavilion on Rt. 362 across from the trailer park. There will be historical displays, old photos of the lake, live music, free narrated pontoon rides and a special story-telling time starting at 3:30. Come in and share your tale about fishing, hunting, boating and camping at the lake. The program is sponsored by Lake Loramie Heritage, Ft. Loramie Historical Association and the Minster Historical Society. Hours 12-4

The museum in Minster is open 10-2 Tues. and 1-3 Sun. This year they will have a walking tour of 4th St. , a tour of the cemetery and a round table discussion about working at Minster Machine. Contact info. on the link page.




Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Lake serpent

One day in August of 1920 while driving over the reservoir bridge at the Ben Lehmkuhl Farm, Frank Rents claimed he saw a sea serpent or "some such varmint", swimming rapidly in the reservoir. He stated it was 10 or 12 feet long and 6 inches in diameter as near as he could tell from where he was. Mr. Rents claimed he called the attention of several campers to the freak but as yet it had not been captured.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Civil War event

The public is invited to a Civil War program presented by the Shelby County Historical Society. It will be held in the Shelby County Common Pleas courtroom (second floor) at 7 p., on Wednesday, May 14th. The tragic story of the Battle of Resaca will be told in a living history format. Resaca, which occurred on May 14, 1864, cost many young soldiers from Shelby County, including some from the Berlin area (Fort Loramie) their lives. What happened, and was it preventable?
The story will be told in the context of an 1876 Revival meeting held in Sidney. Come witness what happens when the Revival preacher meets the disgraced former Union general.

Come early as there is limited seating.
This is the 150th anniversary of this battle.


The general was Gen. Henry Judah who led Company C of the 118th into an impossible situation.. There were 116 casualties out of 270. He later resigned.


James Clawson, son of  Samuel and Ellen of Newport was killed in the battle. His brother James died in Indiana of his injuries. He was married to Elizabeth Houser and had children.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

News

The water has been turned on in the museum and the phone is operational. Spring is here and life is good.

Monday, April 28, 2014

Native artifact

            
                                     This native pouch came with the building. If you know what tribe
                                     it might have belonged to let us know. It could be Sioux.

April updates

Our annual meeting will be held Thursday, May 15 at 7:30 pm in the museum. Refreshments will be served. It's a good time to pay dues. You don't have to be a member to attend so come and look around and see what we are all about.

We are thinking of holding a genealogy day some Sunday this summer when we're open. If you're interested in learning how to research your family tree or if you're an expert and want to come and talk genealogy with others, we have research materials and forms and charts. You can also come any Sunday afternoon in the summer or make arrangements to come at other times.

We have had a donation of a scale and planter from the Leo Goubeaux estate. They and some other tools in our collection will be displayed this summer.

The phone has been fixed. Our number is 937-295-3855. If no answer wait for the beep and leave a message.

Fort Recovery State Museum will be holding a huge artifact show on May 4th from 12 to 4 including prehistoric and battlefield artifacts and rifles. Over 20 collectors from 5 Archaological Society of Ohio organizations will set up on the lawn.  There will also be a video of the late Hal Sherman's paintings 2 of which we have in our museum. 419-375-4649. Organized by Ken Sowards of Fort Loramie.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Threshing


We don't seem to have an original copy of this photo. The caption is in German but it says
 they were threshing wheat (weizen dreschen) in Sept. 1918. The names of some of the people in the picture are:

Louis Hoelscher
John Sturwold
Joseph Schulze
Frank Schroeder
Frank Broering
Henry Borchers
Anton Hilgefort
John Bender
Martin Larger

I leave it to the reader to pick them out or anybody else known.

The notice at the bottom says, "John Sturwold ist mein vater. (John Sturwold is my father)


The Fort Loramie Community Fire Department

The Fort Loramie Community Fire Company Inc. was formed in the year 1883 when Rev. William Bigot was instrumental in the purchase of a hand-operated pump just after the newly built Raterman sawmill burned to the ground.  A gasoline pump was acquired in 1910.  Both pumps were mounted on horse-drawn wagons but since the fire department had no horses they borrowed the Danzig Funeral Home horses that were stabled next door.  The first motorized pumper was acquired in 1928.  Equipment has been upgraded many times over the years.

The Fort Loramie Community Fire Company covers approximately 90 square miles in Shelby County including  Cynthian, McLean and Turtle Creek Townships along with the Village of Fort Loramie.

There have been only 8 fire chiefs:

Stephen Kirner  1883 - 1894
J.C. Quatman  1894 - 19017
John Raterman  1901 - 1932
August Gaier Sr.  1932 - 1961
Vernon Frey  1961 - 1973
Theodore Wendeln  1973 - 1985
Jerome Barhorst  1985 - 2009
Brad Schulze  2009 - present

Monday, March 24, 2014

Looking west on Elm St. I know people who live here see this everyday  I post pictures like this for those who no longer live here and would like to see what things look like now.

March updates

There will be no meeting in April due to Holy Thursday.

Thursday, May 15th we will be holding the annual meeting on our usual meeting day at 7:30 pm in the museum. Refreshments will be served and everyone is welcome. Dues are usually paid at that time. It's a good time to come and ask questions and tour the museum.

"Main Street and Beyond" can be bought for $30 plus $2.18 tax at the museum or at the Silver Cross. It is also available on Amazon by typing in "Ft. Loramie".

If you signed up for the Kroger Plus program that gives donations to the museum you have to re-sign up in May. You need an email address to sign up but you don't have to have a computer. A relative or friend who has one can get an email address for you.

Since the location of the sycamore tree that marked the Greenville Treaty line has been found a ceremony has been planned for September 28th and will be held probably in the elementary school. There will be speeches and afterward a memorial will be unveiled on the spot weather permitting. More information as time goes on.

There has been static on the phone line for some time and recently it stopped working altogether. NKTELCO has determined that the line leading to the building is fine so the problem is in the building. We will be stringing a new line.

Nominations are being sought for the Fort Loramie Education Foundation Wall of Honor. The deadline is June 1st. Contact information is on the school website.

The museum will be open this summer as usual on Sunday afternoons from 1-4 in June, July and August. Tours can be arranged at other times. Historical and genealogical research times can also be arranged.

(I'm passing this along)
John (Coach) Kremer will be 90 years old on April 17 and many people are sending him cards to help him celebrate the day.

His address is:
John Kremer
711 S. Walnut St.
Room 1035
New Bremen, OH  45869.

He is a resident at Elmwood Assisted Living.  He is mentally and physically very strong for a man of 90.
Anyway, I'm sure he would appreciate a card.  Please feel free to spread the word about his birthday.

The Owl Gang, by Ed Lachey

The owl gang was a group of young men in Fort Loramie, Ohio, who pretty much ran around together. They had common interest and they decided to build a meeting place, so they took it upon themselves to build a shack, a small building along the Miami-Erie Canal.

The first shack was probably about ten by ten, not too large, well built by these young men. So then with the help of some parents, I think mostly Edison Maurer, they decided to build a larger shack, about twelve by twenty-four; they had a cement floor and foundation and even had a drain which could be used when it was required to clean the floor. Also had a chimney which I think was mostly constructed by Jim Quinlin as he worked for Freytag’s as a helper.  The building was more than ample to just relax and have fun. It seems they had a pot belly stove to heat the shack in colder weather., each member had their own locker which housed some of their private belongings. Having been there many times myself it was more than ample for playing cards, frying fish, rabbits, and perhaps a pheasant or two, which I think was prepared on a camping stove, and perhaps having some form of liquid refreshments.

One of the rules was no women allowed.


Dues were collected from each member, and it was hard to crack the membership if you were not an original member, although many friends did come for the parties.The original members were Tom and Ralph Gaier, Rich Bollheimer, Paul Maurer, John Lachey, Don and Leo Wendeln, Fred Drees and Don Ruhenkamp

Ralph Gaier was President, and they had meetings such as how to make the mud alley easier to travel, so they decided to use cinders which were free for the hauling, and one fellow who wanted to become a member volunteered to use his father’s livestock truck to haul cinders. Not sure even after he did this if he qualified to be a member, as I say it was hard to crack the membership, but the cinders did help.


Members of this group also played High School basketball, until one night when going to the shack after basketball practice one of the member’s father’s auto, a 1930 Model A, was overloaded and became top heavy and rolled over on its side. All members escaped, but it happened at wrong time as the High School Basketball coach, think it was Mr. Westfall, did not like what he had seen, and dismissed the entire group from his team, did not make a winning season for him as he lost many good ball players.

This group of men all were productive citizens in their adult life and many could be considered role models for the younger folks. At this time May 2, 2013 all these fellows would be nearing the age of 80 years old. I am sure they could tell some really good stories. At this time I think the living members still remaining are Ralph Gaier, Rich Bollheimer, Paul Maurer and Fred Drees.

If you want to check out the old remnants of the old foundation, turn right at 3255 Schlater Rd. You would have to travel north once you reach the private alley, and go about 1000 feet north. The alley turns about 50 feet before the location of the foundation, some of which is still there.


Sunday, March 9, 2014

Ice House


                                   I don't know what newspaper this clipping was in or when.

Ice

It has been a nightmare of a winter but a good one for ice fishing and skating. I see many little huts out on the ice at Lake Loramie.

In the olden days blocks of ice were cut from the lake, stored in ice houses, packed in straw and delivered to households in summer to be put in ice boxes in kitchens. There was a pan under the icebox to catch the melting ice. The tools used for cutting and carrying blocks of ice can be seen at the Lake Heritage Museum when it is open.

In January of 1936 a cottage was moved across the lake on the ice. The ice was 20 inches thick that year. The cottage was owned by Walter Robbins and stood on leased land. When the land was bought by someone else the cottage had to be moved. It looked as if it would have to be hauled all the way around the lake. Instead it was decided to haul it across the lake and a Mr. Schafer and his team of bay horses weighing about 1700 pounds each were chosen for the job. The building was jacked up and skids placed underneath. The temperature was 14 below zero and a terrible wind blew. They pulled the building over a mile of ice and a half mile of frozen ground. They had to stop and rest the horses periodically. It doesn't say in the report how long it took to do this. Ten men went along to help. The building was eventually set on the Bernard Ernst farm near Short's Landing.

At a more recent time several men from Minster took up the sport of curling which they played on the lake near Earl's Island.  I won't explain the sport because most of us have seen it played on TV during the Olympics and besides I don't understand it. Don Oldiges and Louis Hoying Jr. were the co-founders of the local club that averaged 50 members who came from Minster, New Bremen, Ft. Loramie and Maria Stein. Some teams were called The Rolling Stones, Pebble Pushers and Flying Saucers. The purpose was to have fun and the loser bought the beer.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Updates

Fort Loramie Farmer's Market is a community event sponsored by The Fort Loramie Area Chamber of Commerce and Coordinated by Beth Swick & Teisha Strelow. It will be held in the park downtown on Fridays between May 9 and Sept. 26. 

Contact:

Beth Swick or Teisha Strelow at (937) 295-2907 or (740) 334-9085 (Beth's cell), Facebook "Fort Loramie Farmers Market", email at balloongeeks@icloud.com, stop by Balloon Geeks Artistic Creations, LLC at 29 N. Main St. in Ft. Loramie or download application and rules/regulations at www.balloongeeks.com.

19 households have signed up for Kroger's rewards program for which we have been receiving donations. We thank those who have donated.

The Dairy King is open and Brucken's restaurant is for sale.

Saturday, March 1, 2014

February

"Ft. Loramie, Main Street and Beyond" is being reprinted in paperback. It looks exactly like the hardback version and will be sold for $30 plus $2.18 tax. We can have as many or as few printed as we like. It can be bought from the historical association or at the Silver Cross in Ft. Loramie.

Jim Rosengarten recently spoke to the Maria Stein Cub Scouts and gave a tour for the Ft. Loramie Cub Scouts. He was also asked to write an article for the Progress supplement in the Sidney Daily News.

The Christmas decor has been taken down and put away and the museum is being polished up for summer visitors. 447 dinners were served during the four days of the event. The museum will be open as usual on Sunday afternoons in June, July and August. Groups wanting a tour and anyone wanting to do research can get in touch with one of us on the contact page.

The location of the sycamore tree that once marked the Greenville Treaty Line that runs through Ft. Loramie has been found using modern surveying technology.The tree is long gone but there are tentative plans for a monument on the spot and a ceremony. The line was laid out in 1795 to divide the lands reserved for the native tribes and the lands reserved for the settlers.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

General family research internet resources

Genforum
http://genforum.genealogy.com/
(individual surname, state and country message boards, click on
"learning center" for much practical advice)

Rootsweb
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/
(message boards, Free Pages, World Connect, gedcoms added by private people)

ISTG (Immigrant Ship Transcriber's Guild)
http://www.immigrantships.net/index2.html
(ship passenger lists donated by private people)

Castle Garden
http://www.castlegarden.org/
(New York port used before Ellis Island)

Family Search (the Mormon Church's database)
https://familysearch.org/
(They have a very useful learning center or you can go to their local brick & mortar history centers and order films. They are all over the country in their churches)

Ellis Island
http://www.ellisisland.org/
(New York port immigrants came into from 1892-1924)


SSDI (Social Security Death Index)
(no longer available on Rootsweb but can be found on Family Search)

Genealogy Trails
http://genealogytrails.com/

Cyndi's List
http://www.cyndislist.com/

Ancestry.com
(Has sources you can't get elsewhere but you have to pay for it.)
(The Sidney library and the Minster museum have it)

Find a Grave
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi
(Many have photos of the grave stone)

I apologize for the links not working. I'm having a problem with certain things on here.

Early schools

Education was very important to the pioneers. The earliest schools were built of logs and a better building was constructed when there was time and money.

The specifications for a new brick school were very explicit down to the kind of wood and mortar that was to be used. According to the specifications for Sherman School, "The contractor is to furnish all materials and labor necessary for the full completion of the building except the bell which will be furnished by the building committee but must be hung by the contractor". The foundation and brick work were to be "put up in good strong mortar made from good sharp sand and fresh lime". There were to be 3 coats of plaster, the first having "good long winter hair" in it. Blackboards were to be "4 feet high and a good quality of slate and properly secured to the wall". Windows had wire mesh attached to the outside to protect them from baseballs and snowballs. Sherman School had a basement and a furnace but many schools were heated with a wood or coal burning stove that had to be lit in the morning by the teacher or a student.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Updates from Jim Rosengarten

I have been contacted by a historical researcher from Mercer County and he informed me of documents at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio. The documents are from the John Mathews collection. John Mathews operated a store near the fort and receipts and other papers from his business are at Marietta.

After several starts and stops a paperback version of the book is now available. I will have a few copies by early next week. It is for sale at $35 at Amazon.com. (Less when they have a sale) Long story short, that is about what we have to charge to show a profit. We will also have books at the museum and Silver Cross as well. Those books we may be able to sell a little cheaper. All books will be paperback.

http://www.amazon.com/Fort-Loramie-Main-Street-Beyond/dp/1494950952

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Updates

The extreme cold temperatures we have been going through have kind of put a crimp in any museum plans. We were going to have a meeting in January but snow that day forced us to cancel. We should have one in February. Let's hope the weather improves by then. Spring is just around the corner but the corner is kind of far away.

We'll be open again in June, July and August.

The undecorating has been started but there is no hurry in getting it done. We all deserve a rest anyway.

The water has been turned off in the museum as we have been doing the last 3 years so we can turn the furnace way down and avoid frozen pipes.

Continue to check the Fish Report for more of Harry Boerger's photo collection. These old photos were given to Harry by people in the area.

Story by Ted Wendeln

My grandfather, Anton Bernard Wendeln, worked at Wise Sawmill in Ft Loramie from the early 1900s until his death in 1920. He lived in Minster at the corner of N. Main St and 7th St. across from Hausfeld Motors. The Interurban ran right in front of the house. He built a four wheeled bicycle with wheels that would fit on the Interurban tracks. He would ride this bicycle down the track every day to go to work at Wise's. This story was told to us kids by my father, Bernard Wendeln, and his brothers, often when we were growing up.

by Ted Wendeln

Friday, January 10, 2014

Short School photo

Short one-room school

Short School is in Section 21 of Cynthian Township on a dirt road off Galley Rd. It can be seen from
Galley. The plaque on the front says, "Short's Schoolhouse, No. 3, Built by R. Luckey, 1883". The building is being used as farm storage and a hole has been cut out of the side but the cupola that held the bell is still on the roof.

Isaac Short had sent his son to a subscription school and decided a school in the neighborhood was necessary. The log school was constructed across the road from the location of the present brick building. The land for the new brick school was bought from John and Elizabeth Short for $50. The deed is dated 28 July 1883. The school closed in 1936 and was merged into the Ft. Loramie School District. There were 25 pupils in the school at the time.

According to Wilma Hoelscher Brunswick, whose father was on the school board at the time, Henry Eilerman, the clerk, turned over the books to the Ft. Loramie District without the knowledge of the other board members. When members called the clerk to ask the time of the next meeting they were told the school was closed.

Local residents hired a lawyer and along with Turner, Grisez and Cynthian Schools petitioned to get an injunction to stop the closing of these schools. A temporary injunction was granted by Judge Mills of the common pleas court to halt the transfer. The petition for a permanent injunction restraining the Shelby County Board of Education from consolidating the former Turner, Grisez, Cynthian, and Short school districts into the newly formed Ft. Loramie Village School District, Russia Rural School District and Houston School District was denied by Judge Hugh Gilmore of Eaton who was assigned to hear the case in the common pleas court. According to Wilma Brunswick there is apparently no record of this case at the courthouse.

On August 16, 1939 the property was sold to Milton A. Jelly for $75. In August of 1983 a reunion was held at the old school for former students. The bell was rehung in the bellfry for the occasion. In 1987 Karen Fullenkamp won first place in her age group in an essay contest held by the Fort Loramie Historical Association for her story about Short School.

Some of the teachers:
James Pilliod - 1884
Ben Pleiman - 1899-1900
John C. Short - 1900-1901, 1906-1908
Florian Notheis - 1908-1910
Eleanora Fleckenstein - 1910-1912
Albert Aselage - 1913
William Eilerman - 1914-1915
Pauline Ernst (Seger) - 1917
Robert Gigandet - 1920, 1923 & 1930-1932
Esther Gigandet - 1923-1930
Ruth Carter Barhorst - 1932-1936

Short School reunion

Short School reunion names

Short Reunion, 1983

Row 1 - Alfred Bergman, Cletus Bergman, Mary Hoelscher Magoto, Pauline Quinter Kohler, Edna Quinter Lampert, Rita Holthaus, Mary Helen Hoelscher Gaier, Robert Hoelscher, Lester Kemper, Paul Barlage, Anthony Holthaus.

Row 2 - Wilma Hoelscher Brunswick, Stella Quinter Klikovitz, Marcella Brunswick Barga, Agnes Eilerman Birch, Edward Holthaus, Jennie Eilerman, Leona Quinter Pleiman, Erma Holthaus Deitz, Dolores Barlage Wehrman, Aloys Hoelscher, Lester Holthaus, Agnes Sanders Quinter, Helen Eilerman Ruschau.

Row 3 - Bernard Holthaus, Bertha Eilerman,Emma Fleckenstein Nutt, Helen Brunswick Fortman, Mary Holthaus Meyer, Ruth Carter Barhorst (teacher), Albert Quinter, Hilda Pleiman Steinlage, Luke Hoelscher.

Row 4 - John Gariety (age 93), Grace Tearnan Wick, Carl Holthaus, Victor Holthaus, Robert Barlage, Urban Winner, Norbert Pleiman, Raymond Pleiman, Roy Pleiman, Paul Holthaus, Leona Sanders Mescher, Marcellus Holthaus, Anthony Quinter.

Present but not on the picture - Victoria Pleiman Schulze Eilerman, Mary Martz Anthony, Ruth Tearnan Elsner, Clement Holthaus, Leonard Meyer.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Photo


Ft. Loramie looking north at Main and Park. Early 1900's. The canal is on the left.

Family trees

Family trees in the historical collection. Contact us if you would like to look at them.

Barhorst
Bergman
Birkibile
Borchers
Brörmann-Enker
Carity-Gariety (2 copies)
Chambers
DeBrosse
Ernst (2 copies)
Fecher
Frilling
Geise
Guggenbiller (2 copies)
Hilgefort
Hoying
Karch
Kramer
Liess
Lindhaus
May-Homan
Notheis
Paulus
Pilliod (Pilliod)
Puthoff
Romie
Sherman
Steinke
Stover-Warren-Wallace
Winner

Some odds and ends

Dressman
Barlage
Bornhorst
Bramlage
Grieshop
Poeppelman
Prenger
Ronnebaum
Seger
Sextro
Wolke