FALL 2013 - Historic Zoar Village

A Publication of the Zoar Community Assocition
FALL 2013
www.historiczoarvillage.com
The ZCA Mission
To preserve, interpret, and celebrate
the culture and heritage of the
Society of Separatists and historic
Zoar Village through education,
activities, and events that promote
both the legacy of the Society and
the present Zoar community.
What’s Inside
Zoar Bible Donation
Contact Block
Meet the Board
New Members Who was Alexander Gunn Hotel Opened
Highlights
New Web Page, Quilt Square
Upcoming Events
New News
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Artifact of the Month
This item is made of tin, painted
black, with red and yellow decoration.
It has holes in the top, is 3” high, and
2 1/2” in diameter. Do you know what
it is? Be the first person to e-mail
the correct use of this item and
receive 4 complimentary tickets to
this year’s Christmas in Zoar event:
zoarinfo@historicZoar village.com
Zoar Bible dated 1723 belonging to Zoarite Johan
George Gretzinger and original letter from Alexander
Gunn donated to the Zoar Community Association
Donation received from Judith Luttrell
Harmon of Athens, Ohio.
This Bible was found behind the
wainscoting of the old brewery at Zoar, O.
in 1898 by Alexander Gunn, and its history
so far as known is written below by Mr.
Alexander Gunn
Translation of letter:
I have consulted with the most ancient
people about this history of this old Bible-It
belonged to Johan George Gretzinger, the
first brewer of Zoar-and was brought by
him from Wurtemburg when they exiled
themselves from that country---.
Gretzinger was a versatile character.
He was a violinist (his instrument is
now in use here) and was one of the
queer orchestra which accompanied the
hymns in their frequent “meetings” The
orchestra consisted of violin, 2 clarinets,
a horn and a flute.
Gretzinger was also the first landlord,
always arrayed in a long apron, bustling
and very active.
He was also the horse and cow doctor
and had a widespread reputation for skill;
his doses were heroic in quantity; his
syringe (still in use) is like a small cannon.
Gretzinger was also the butcher. He was
kind but high tempered and was, despite
his days religious feeling “un tres gallant
homme” . (Very handsome man). He was
also the cooper and his shop was reputed
to be much frequented on summer nights
by sympathetic sisters.
So this is all we know of the man who
owned your Bible-many years he has been
resting in the little cemetery on the hill.
Certainly no more versatile person ever
thumbed the scripture and all the tales told
of him are to his credit. He had few faults
and they were of the most amicable nature.
4th January, 1899.
ZCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jon Elsasser, President
330-874-4684/330-323-1529
alsacian@msn.com
David Hayes
330-874-4509/330-904-7261
dhayes119@yahoo.com
Mark Gaynor, Vice President
330-874-1817/330-340-9992
chief@indianrivergraphics.com
Rev. Ken Hutchinson
330-854-5110
hutchinson@sssnet.com
Diane Geis, Treasurer
330-874-3181/330-904-2980
geis@roadrunner.com
Darrell Markijohn
330-495-4952
dmarkijohn@sbcglobal.net
Frank Price, Vice President
330-602-8820/330-260-7802
feprice@msn.com
Libby Moffat
330-874-4787/330-309-5126
annieliz261@yahoo.com
Gail Rubert, Secretary
330-309-3172
ggarbrandt@gmail.com
Mike Murphy
330-340-9180
mccamurphy@gmail.com
Bill Bjork
330-874-6097/919-356-4721
billbjork@windstream.net
Holly Shane
330-874-2407
hollypop50@aol.com
Jeff Eadie
440-785-5746
villagefamilydent@sbcglobal.net
Sandy Worley
330-874-2600
marianc@roadrunner.com
Darin Good
330-754-9973
drumguy@roadrunner.com
CONTACT US
zoarinfo@historiczoarvillage.com
330-874-3011 or 800-262-6195
PO Box 621
198 Main St.
Zoar, OH 44697
www.historiczoarvillage.com
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VISIT US
Site Hours for Tours:
January-March: Closed
April & May: Sat. 11-4; Sun. 12-4
June-September: Wed. - Sat. 11-4; Sun. 12-4
October: Sat. 11-4, Sun. 12-4
November & December: Closed
Zoar Store Retail Hours:
January & Febuary: Closed
March: Fri., Sat. 10-5; Sun. 12-5
April-December: Wed. - Sat. 10-5; Sun. 12-5
Meet the Board Gail Garbrandt Rubert
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Gail Garbrandt
Rubert holds a M.A.
from the University
of Akron and a B.A.
from Kent State
University, where
she graduated with
honors. Mrs. Rubert
currently works for
Bon Ton Inc. as a manager at Elder
Beerman in New Philadelphia. She
worked 16 years at the prestigious Ray
C Bliss Institute of Applied Politics
and taught Political Science at the
University level at Malone University,
Mount Union, Walsh University and
the University of Akron. She has over
16 years at the University and most
recently worked as the Faculty Director
for Walsh University for the Semester in
Rome, Italy. She was named a Salzburg
Global Fellow in 2008 and travelled to
Salzburg, Austria to attend a session on
“Advancing the Voice of Women in Civil
Society Organizations.” She travelled to
South Africa as a Visiting Scholar and
taught at The University of Pretoria.
Gail Rubert is a past board member of
The American Association of Political
Consultants where she served from
2002-2013; She was the President of the
Midwest Regional Chapter. She is on the
Board of the Center for the Advancement
of Women in Public Service at Cleveland
State University and was Vice President
of Communications for the National
Women’s Political Caucus in Washington,
D.C. She is a Board Member of the Zoar
Community Association.
Welcome to Our
New Members
and Donors
NEW MEMBERS
Heritage Home Association of
Tuscarawas Co.
Don Slusher
Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Wright
William Reulbach
Maureen Murray May
Dr. and Mrs. Mark Welty
WHO WAS ALEXANDER GUNN?
Alexander Gunn Jr. was a wealthy merchant and iron
manufacturer from Cleveland Ohio, and a world traveler. He
also loved and wrote about Zoar in a personal journal.
Mr. Gunn first visited Zoar around 1879 and soon fell in love
with the quaint little village. He later retired to Zoar for the
last 18 years of his life and never married (his best friend
William Whitney married Mr. Gunn’s sweetheart). The Society
of Separatists in Zoar gave him the right to occupy one of the
cabins at the northeast end of town known as the Hermitage
which still stands today.
In March 1898 the society members formally decided to
disband. The real estate was divided and a huge auction in
October sold the community goods such as farm equipment
and livestock. Each member was allowed to keep his or her
home, and household goods.
For additional information and a different perspective
on Zoar see: Gunn, Alexander. The Hermitage-Zoar Note
Book and Journal of Travel. New York: De Vinne Press, 1902.
At Gunn’s burial, a team of six horses pulled the large granite
boulder up the hill to a spot as a marker for his grave. This was
one of Mr. Gunn’s favorite spots nestled in a grove of buckeye
trees overlooking his beloved Zoar Brewery. Gunn turned a
portion of the Brewery in his library for gentlemen. The Bible
dated 1723 belonging to Gretzinger was found there.
Many attribute the demise and fall of Zoar to Gunn who
remodeled the Hermitage with items of luxury and did a great
deal of entertaining. His guests were the multi-millionaire
William Whitney of New York, Mark Hanna of Cleveland, and
many of the Zoar Trustees. He held huge dinner parties in the
Zoar Hotel dining room, with champagne included at most.
The lavish lifestyle and influx of outsiders brought to Zoar
during the late 1800’s may have influenced Zoar’s simple people
and introduced them to things they had never seen before.
Levi Bimeler, great-grandson of Joseph and the schoolmaster
complained that Gunn’s presence was a sign that the communal
system no longer worked, and it was time to end it. Levi
started a subversive newsletter in 1895 called the nuginta (:
anti-gun (n)” backward).
Alexander Gunn 2nd from left top row
Gunn’s “Library” in the Brewery
ZOAR HOTEL OPENED TO VISITORS
This year the lobby and a portion
of the Zoar Hotel was opened to
visitors during the Harvest Festival
and Civil War Reenactment. Over
2,500 signatures and comments were
obtained on post cards which will be
sent to the USACE to be counted in
our SAVE ZOAR efforts. A big thanks
to Bev Crank for coming up with the
idea and helping Site Manager Jenny
Donato clean the lobby out. Another
thank you to Board member Bill Bjork,
who cleaned out several additional rooms
in the hotel for visitors to walk through.
Bill and Kathy Bjork, Chuck Knaack,
Larry Bell, Diane Geis, Jenny Donato,
Pam McWhorter, and Bev Crank spoke
with visitors viewing the Zoar Hotel, and
explained the flooding situation that
looms over the historic village.
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM ZOAR’S HARVEST FESTIVAL
AND CIVIL WAR REENACTMENT
Whew! Time has flown since the last issue of the Zoar Star in July, probably because our two summer events,
Harvest Festival and the Civil War Reenactment kept the town so busy! Beautiful weather brought crowds of visitors
to our little village to shop, tour, eat, and experience history. Enjoy the photos from these lovely events!
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ZOAR’S 4-H QUILT SQUARE BECOMES
A PART OF THE TRAIL PROJECT
The 7 pointed Zoar Star quilt patch is
located on Scott and Marilyn Gordon’s
barn at 586 Park Street in Zoar. Our
thanks to the Gordons (by the way Scott
is a Zoar descendant). This star was the
emblem of the Separatists who fled from
their homeland , Wurttemberg, Germany
to American in 1817
What is a Quilt Square Trail?
A quilt square trail is a collection of quilt
patterns painted or affixed to structures
(typically barns) in a county or other
designated area. There are quilt square
trails in at least 22 counties in Ohio as
well as 17 other states. Quilters, artists,
barn enthusiasts, and others follow the
trail connecting related barn quilts.
Brochures and maps are available at
www.tuscarawas.osu.edu
What is the 4-H Quilt Square
Trail Project?
Clubs involved in painting quilt squares
for the trail provide a service to their
community, beautify the county,
bring attention to the importance of
agriculture, and potentially help to bring
tourists to the area thereby boosting the
local economy.
NEW WEBSITE
www.historiczoarvillage.com
Jenny Donato and Becka Lash have been working with Jennifer
Hugon of Hugon Art & Design and Jason Roberts of NetFUSION
Studios on an updated website. Some of these updates include an
online store, the capability to receive donations through the website,
volunteer and general interest contact pages, as well as remote
editing of web content. The online store currently includes books
and Zoar mugs, but we hope to expand to include t-shirts, Christmas
ornaments, and more!
When you visit the new website, you’ll find the newsletters and a
photo gallery under Explore, lists of all the places to stay, eat, and
shop under Plan Your Visit, as well as all the classes and events. We’ll
be adding blog style posts under News and you can conveniently
link to Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube from the new homepage. We
are so excited about our improved web presence and we hope you’ll
enjoy the new site!
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Theresa Haskew of New
Philadelphia Ohio. Theresa won the drawing for
the replica Zoar bench.
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OCTOBER
Speaker Series
Upcoming Events
Saturday, October 5, 1p-2p – FREE
Christopher Kenney of the McKinley Museum will discuss
some of the most lasting History Myths. Meet at the Zoar
School House.
Harvest Home
School Day
Friday, October 11, 10a-4p
$4/child(4-17) one adult FREE, additional
adults (18+) $6.
Experience the harvest in Zoar! Explore
the cellars of Zoar where food and drink
were stored for the winter. Try activities that help get the
village ready for snowstorms and dark nights.
Intermediate Blacksmithing Class
Saturday, October 12, 8a-5p
Must have completed the Beginning Blacksmithing Class to
register. Students will spend all day at the forge working on a
project to take home. Project may include, leaf work, fullering,
horseshoes, fire poker or rake, paper towel or bathroom tissue
holder. Please bring a sack lunch. Cost is $125/participant.
Reservations required by calling 330-874-3011.
ZCA Dinner Series
Saturday, October 19, 6p-9p.
Experience a German Octoberfest and sample German beers
at the Zoar School House. Reservations required by calling
800-262-6195. $40/single, $75/couple.
Ghost Tours
Friday and Saturday, October 25
& 26, 6:30, 6:45, 7:00, 7:15, 7:30
$15/adult, $10/child.
Stroll through the haunted village and
buildings of Zoar. Costumed guides lead
the tours and tell tales of spirits past and
present. You may even encounter spirits from the past as you
visit the buildings. Each tour lasts one hour. Reservations
required by calling 330-874-3011.
Beginning Blacksmithing Class
Saturday, October 26
Learn the basics of blacksmithing as you forge a hook and a
nail. This class features plenty of time at the anvil while you
discover the history of smithing. Limited to four apprentices,
reservations required. 8a-5p $100/participant.
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NOVEMBER
Speaker Series
Saturday, November 2, 1p-2p. – FREE
Becka Lash, Assistant Site Manager, gives a presentation on
Cholera epidemics and how they affected Zoar. Meet at the
Zoar School House.
Weaving Class
Wednesday, Novembe 13, 10a-5p.
Learn to weave on a two harness floor loom. $60 per person
includes all instruction, materials and supplies. Each student
will take a completed project home. Classes fill quickly, so call
330-874-3011 to make your reservation.
Sale in the Zoar Store
Friday and Saturday November 29 & 30
Help us make room for Christmas items at our Thanksgiving
weekend sale. 10-5 Friday & Saturday, 12-5 on Sunday.
DECEMBER
Sale in the Zoar Store
Sunday, December 1
Help us make room for Christmas items at our Thanksgiving
weekend sale. 10-5 Friday & Saturday, 12-5 on Sunday.
Speaker Series
Saturday, December 7, 1p-2p – FREE
Christopher Hart, historian at Roscoe Village, presents “A
Christmas Carol Unwrapped.” Meet at the Zoar Church.
Christmas in Zoar
Saturday and
Sunday, December
7&8
Spark the holiday
magic with a visit to
Christmas in Zoar!
Musical entertainment
in the Zoar Church,
private home tours,
a live manger scene highlight this holiday event. Shop the
juried craft show for unique gifts, or visit Santa’s workshop
to help your children make a unique item. Enjoy horse
drawn wagon rides and a candlelight church service and tree
lighting ceremony on Saturday. Food and drink can be found
throughout the village. $7/adult, children 12 and under FREE.
Saturday, 10-6, Sunday 12-5.
Yes!
WE WANT TO SPONSOR & PROTECT
HISTORIC ZOAR VILLAGE
Name
Address
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS:
$50
$250
$100
$500
$150
$1000
$200
Phone
Other: $
Card #
My donation and information are enclosed.
Please consider this a pledge and bill me at this date___/___/2013.
PO Box 621, Zoar, OH 44697 • 800-262-6195 or 330-874-2646
www.historiczoarvillage.com • zoarinfo@zca.org
Thank you for your donation to Zoar Village and the Zoar Community
Association. You will receive your receipt for tax purposes shortly
after we receive your donation.
Watch the mail for your invitation to the upcoming
ZCA Annual Membership Meeting and Volunteer
Banquet. We’ve decided to hold these two events
together instead of holding two separate events
in the same month. The banquet and meeting will
be held at the Wilkshire Banquet Center in Bolivar
at 1pm on Sunday, November 3. Mike Smith of
Trax Diner will cater the luncheon that will include
sausage and cheese plate, garden salad, pasta
salad, and potato salad, croissant sandwiches,
and choice of pie for dessert. The cost is $15 per
person for ZCA members. There will be no charge
for ZCA volunteers. Volunteers may bring a guest
for $15. We will have tickets available for a Chinese
auction. Each person will receive one ticket upon
arrival, additional tickets available 1/$1 or 6/$5.
Reservations required by calling 330-874-3011.
Please call by October 25.
Code
Name On Card
Zoar Community Association
2013 ANNUAL
MEMBERSHIP MEETING
& VOLUNTEER BANQUET
Exp. Date Signature
Please Charge My Credit Card Immediately
Check For $ Monthly
Enclosed
(Payable To Zoar Community Association)
ELEANOR SULLIVAN
BOOK SIGNING
Author and Zoar Descendant Eleanor Sullivan was in
the village on Saturday, September 21 to talk about
and sign her new book, Graven Images. This is the
second book in the Singular Village Mystery series.
In Graven Images, an Irish traveler is blamed for a
suspicious death, and Adelaide, a young midwife in
Zoar, must risk her own life to find the killer before
the traveler is delivered to the authorities, where he’ll
surely be hanged. The murders? Fictitious. But Zoar
and its history are real!
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PRESORTED STD
US POSTAGE
ZOAR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 621
Zoar, OH 44697
PAID
MAILER’S CHOICE
The Zoar Star is published quarterly by
The Zoar Community Association
savingplaces.org/treasures/village-zoar
The historic Village of Zoar is
protected by a levee built in
the 1930s. But one of several
alternatives being considered by
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
would remove the levee
entirely — which could require
the demolition of 80% of this
remarkable historic village.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Republic Services-County Wide
3619 Gracemont St. SW, East Sparta, OH 44612
330-874-3855 • www.republicservicesohio.com
jkraus@republicservices.com
Zoar Golf Course
8229 Dover Zoar Rd. NE, Dover, OH 44622
330-874-4653 • www.zoargolf.com
Zoar School Inn Bed &
Breakfast
P.O. Box 509, Zoar, OH 44697
216-927-3700 • www.zoarschoolinn.com
info@zoarschoolinn.com
Oakshadows Kennel Plus
7665 Middle Run Rd. NE, Dover, OH 44622
330-343-7233 • www.oakshadowskennel com
Westbrook’s Cannery
P.O. Box 435, Zoar, OH 44697
330-874-8120 • www.westbrookscannery.com
kristina@westbrookscannery.com
Leonard Insurance Services
4244 Mt. Pleasant St. NW, N. Canton, OH 44720
330-266-1904 • www.leonardinsurance.com
Lebold-Smith Funeral Home
248 Park Ave., Bolivar, OH 44612
330-874-3113 • www.smithfuneral.com
rsmith@smithambulance.com
The Keeping Room Bed &
Breakfast and Antiques in the
Wash House
P.O. Box 614, Zoar, OH 44697
330-874-3181
www.thekeepingroombandb.com • geis@roadrunner.com
Fire House Grille & Pub
162 Main St., Zoar, OH 44697
330-874-2726 • www.thefirehousegrilleandpub.com
Canal Tavern of Zoar
8806 Towpath Rd. NE (just outside of
Zoar), Bolivar, OH 44612
330-874-4444 • www.canaltavernofzoar.com
eat@canaltavernof zoar.com
Goodings Nursery & Landscaping
4375 Cumberland Rd., Sherrodsville, OH 44675 740269-7685 • www.goodingsnursery.com
question@goodingsnursery.com
Zoar Market
9466 SR 212, Bolivar, OH 44612
330-874-4372
zoarmarket@wilkshire.net
Blooms Printing, Inc.
4792 N. 4th St. Ext. SE,
Dennison, OH 44621
740-922-1765 • www.bloomsprinting.com
rbloomjr@bloomsprinting.com
D.L. Brown, LLC-Quality Roofing Services
Slate Repair - General Home Improvements
New Philadelphia, OH 44663
330-339-7040
Zoar Stitchery-Quilting and Sewing
in the Historic Zoar Sewing House
10874 State Route 212, Bolivar, OH 44612
330-874-4879 • www.zoarstitchery.com
Springhouse Primitives
18th century penny rugs-hooked rugs
198 SR 212 (located in the Zoar Store), Zoar, OH 44697
330-413-3503 • www.springhouseprimitives.com
Wilkshire Banquet Center
474 Jeanne Anne Lane Bolivar, OH 44697
330-874-3600 • cindy@wbcmeet.com
Whitemyer Advertising
254 E. 4th St., Zoar, OH 44697
330-874-2432 • www.whitemyer.com
Ruetenik Tree Farm
9976 Welton Rd. NE, Bolivar, OH 44612
330-874-2688