German Culture Museum exhibits local culture, history
The German Culture Museum in Walnut Creek is a terrific place for area people to delve into local history, explore the German and Swiss heritage, and learn more about how this community was built from its first settlers.
Gaining insight into the German and Amish heritage of Holmes County today requires a look back into the history of how the Anabaptists came to this area and the role that German culture played in developing Holmes County into what it is today.
For a grand look into the area’s past, one need look no further than the German Culture Museum, which is packed with significant artifacts, beautiful pieces of historical memorabilia, and stories galore of Holmes County past, from Jonas “Der Weiss” Stutzman, the area's first settler, to the highly prize Reuben Yutzy gun, the 12 Apostle sculptures and many other unique and interesting stories that are shared with visitors.
“There is so much neat history here for people to see, and more importantly, it is here for them to gain some great insight into our heritage," said board member Kermit Miller.
The community building that houses the museum, which resides on the first floor, was built in 2007. The GCM moved into its current home in August, 2010. Since then, the museum has been adding pieces of memorabilia and history.
What makes the museum so unique is that it is filled with many one-of-a-kind pieces, most of which come from local families and individuals. That gives the museum its very down-to-earth appeal.
Many of the items are from collections from local people, like Wayne Hochstetler and Ed Schlabach, who helped create a bulk of what is now available for viewing.
“They collected a lot of these articles and stored them wherever they could, in barns, storage units, attics and all over the place,” said board member Pam Miller.
Board member John Hochstetler, son of Wayne, said once Ed and Ruth Schlabach, long-time owners of Schlabach’s General Store in Walnut Creek, passed away, the museum began placing their memorabilia so others could enjoy it.
“Dad and Ed both loved collecting, and probably our pride and joy is the John. D. Rockefeller surrey from the 1860s,” John Hochstetler said.
Pam Miller said when Walnut Creek celebrated its sesquicentennial in 1976, there was a huge push to create a genuine and in-depth historical background of the community and the county. Walnut Creek teacher and principal Roscoe Miller, a historian himself, gathered loads of information that is now a big part of the GCM.
“That organization of material really helped get the German Culture Museum going,” Pam Miller said.
The focus on the sesquicentennial helped build momentum to explore creating a museum, and soon other people around the community began to bring in new and unique items into the fold. The museum officially opened in 1982 in a small house beside the post office in Walnut Creek.
Hochstetler said that when Roscoe Miller, who has since passed away, gave tours at the museum, it was very much like being at the Smithsonian Institute, such was Miller’s incredible fount of knowledge and insight into local history.
The museum itself is packed with many collectible items, and what the GCM board has done in making an attractive approach to display the items is to create individual rooms that highlight a certain aspect of life from the early days of Holmes County and Walnut Creek. There is a working replica of the Tauferversteck, a secret hiding room designed by Swiss Anabaptists to hide people being persecuted for their faith. There is a series of rare butter churns, memorabilia from the 1962 Hiland state runner-up basketball team, an original building painting of local artist Tom Miller, several of Der Weiss’ handmade chairs as well as his first three original publications called the First, Second and Third Callings of Christ’s return, a one-room log cabin, presidential memorabilia, and more that helps define this area.
“Our mission is to preserve, protect and promote our local history,” Hochstetler said.
Room by room, aisle by aisle, local history comes to life and speaks volumes as to the history and culture of the Swiss and German people who first settled in Holmes County.
“When people come in, they will see the start of our community from Jonas “Der Weiss” Stutzman, the first settler, to the Anabaptist movement of the Amish and Mennonite people, along with many remnants of people throughout our history here that illustrate life back in the old days,” Hochstetler said. “We want future generations to understand and respect our faith and heritage and how they got here.”
Each year, the museum creates a new, unique display that is only there for one season. This year features some old, rare pieces of Coleman equipment from local collector Ed Erb.
While the museum is a draw for tourists, it is also a wonderful place for locals to better understand their own history. The GCM board members encourage locals to not only come and share the vision the museum loves to promote, but also to become members. Annual membership dues are just $25 per individual and $40 per family, with business memberships ranging from $50-$150 and major benefactor memberships starting at $250.
“We have all kinds of visitors from outside the area and even from other countries, but there are so many people right here in our own community and county who have grown up here and never really understand our heritage and history,” Pam Miller said. “Our hope is that they would come in and explore the history and stories we have to offer. We believe it is important for our community to know the history and to really understand our heritage.”
The German Culture Museum is located at 4877 Olde Pump Street in Walnut Creek. Hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturday from noon-4 p.m. It is admission by donation and group visits can be arranged by appointment. You can learn more by visiting the museum at: www.germanculturemuseum.org.