Historic Schoenbrunn Village Undergoing Renovations

  • By Teri Stein
  • November 10, 2013
  • 403
                        
Summary: Renovations will be ongoing over the winter season and into the spring to make one area historical attraction stand the test of time. It takes a little help to stand the test of time and thanks to grants from several area foundations, work has begun to complete renovations at Historic Schoenbrunn Village. The grants total $155,000 with the Timken and Reeves Foundations donating $75,000 each and the Tuscarawas County Community Foundation contributing an additional $5,000. “This project is a result of synergy, cooperation and collection of information and public input gathered at a Cabin Symposium last October followed by Strategic Planning in the winter,” said Wendy Zucal of the Dennison Depot which oversees operations at Schoenbrunn. The work includes a new roof and door repairs to visitor center, the repair of a log which is coming out of schoolhouse jeopardizing that structure, and repairs to chimneys, hearths and window frames and chinking. It also includes renovations to the spring house in the lower level of the park. The work began this month and is expected to be completed in April or May 2014. Funding in this phase included the hiring of a consultant to do historic research on the buildings which were at the original village, which was established by Moravian Missionary David Zeisberger in May 1772. Susan Goerhing of Bath, a former site director for more than two decades at Schoenbrunn and an expert on the village, was hired for the position. “We want be very historically accurate to rebuild the Native American cabin that that we tore down after it was condemned,” said Zucal. “Our goal is to make the village less static, less cookie cutter perfect which is historically inaccurate.” The project is a partnership between the Ohio Historical Society, which owns the site, and the Dennison Depot, which operates the site. “We work in tandem and both agree on the work to be done,” said Zucal. “The partnership is working great as there have been huge improvements to the Village in the last five to six years. Using the resources of the Depot, the OHS and our local volunteers has greatly benefited the Village.” Zucal envisions more work in the future to make the village more complete. “Once (this phase of the project is) complete, our focus will be to look at the lower level and also at replacing the other three buildings that were once at Schoenbrunn and have been lost over time since the 1920s,” said Zucal. Volunteers get a lot of credit for making things happen at Schoenbrunn as well. Volunteers were instrumental at The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, an outdoor play hosted at the village recently. “Sleepy Hollow turned out great,” said Zucal. “It gets better every year and we plan to do it again next year.” Volunteers also kept things running smoothly during the Colonial Trade Faire in October and the many other activities that are scheduled throughout the year such as the spring and fall evening lantern tours and Children’s Day in June. Volunteers are also needed to mow and maintain the village and demonstrate the day to day activities that went on in the village, such as spinning, gardening, and candle making, during the summer and at special events. A different project aims to replace some the trees lost in the village this year as time and the weather took its toll. For information on how you can help sponsor the planting of new trees contact the Dennison Depot. With Schoenbrunn Village closed for the season, Zucal and others at the Dennison Depot turn their attention to the Polar Express train rides to be held Dec. 13 – 15 and 20 – 22. They invite you to put on your favorite pair of pajamas and hop aboard for a magical journey to the North Pole to pick up Santa Claus! To purchase tickets, call the Dennison Depot at 740-922-6776 or toll-free at 1-877-278-8020.


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