Sugarcreeks Alpine Museum has treasures of the past just waiting to be discovered by local residents
by Jennifer Kneuss
April 18, 2011
354
Summary:
Three floors with 7,000 square feet of display space house unique historical treasures in the quaint village of Sugarcreek, Ohio. Those wishing to know more about their own heritage are encouraged to stop in for a peek into the past during the facility's 35th anniversary year.
A very unique Sugarcreek landmark is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2011, and is inviting local residents to visit and join in the celebration. The Alpine Museum and Tourist and Information Center plays a crucial role in helping to preserve the heritage of the Sugarcreek area, and also ensures that visitors have the opportunity to come to know and love the area as much as do the people who live there.
We formed in 1976 and moved into this building around 1978. I was on the Swiss Festival committee at that time, and that committee was behind the formation of the museum, explained Lowell Youngen, who along with his wife, Diana, is beginning a third year of service as volunteer directors for the Center. The Youngens also celebrated a milestone in 2011 – their 50th wedding anniversary. Together with their staff of volunteers, they are continuing to make improvements to the facility, which contains artifacts and displays from the 1800s until the present day.
The three-story plus basement building was donated to the Board of Directors back in the beginning by Ranson Andreas of Andreas Furniture. He had originally used this building as his warehouse, but then he deeded the whole building over to the Center. That is what really got us going with it, stated Youngen.
We have displays in the lower level, first floor, and second floor, with the third being used for storage, he continued, noting that there is over 7,000 square feet of display space in use. This building has character.
When asked about the most unique items on display at the museum, Youngen was quick to reply.
One of the most unusual things we have is in the basement level, where we have an early photographers wagon. When a photographer went out into the countryside, he took all of the chemicals and everything he needed to develop those pictures on site. But one of the most rare items is now on display in an archival glass case.
The director continued, In the case is a guest book that was used by the number two man in the Third Reich during WWII, Hitlers right hand man, Herman Goering, head of the Luftwaffe. The Luftwaffe was one of the most battle-experienced air forces in the world at the start of WWII. The book has signatures that we have not yet been able to be translated, and they appear to be those of prominent German military people of that era.
The story of how the one of a kind registry traveled from Nazi Germany to Sugarcreek, Ohio, is one shrouded in mystery, however.
We dont know exactly how it was acquired, but Lieutenant General Donald Putt, who grew up here in Sugarcreek and went on to a military career, was in Germany during that time period. His expertise was in flight. Somewhere, he acquired this guest book, and brought it to the US. After he died, his son, William Putt, donated the book to the museum with some of Donald Putts memorabilia, and this guest book was part of the donation. We wish we knew more of the background, because the book has dates in it from 1941 until 1945, at the end of the war, commented Youngen.
In 2010, there were almost 9,000 visitors who came through the museum, with another 3,000 just asking for information. There were visitors from all 50 states, as well as from 27 different countries, but Youngen also encourages local residents to take advantage of the opportunity to glimpse into their own heritage.
We have an attraction here that Sugarcreek needs to be proud of, he noted. It is something that is unique, and it has to keep going.
The Alpine Museum and Tourism and Visitors Center is on West Main Street in Sugarcreek, and is open from 9:00 to 4:30, Monday through Saturday. It can be reached at 330-852-4113.
