Schoenbrunn to hold fall lantern tours Sept. 27-28
Kayla Gamble, left, Tanner Immel and Harry Harman are ready to welcome guests to the Schoenbrunn Village lantern tours.
Reaching the local community is a goal of Tanner Immel, new site director at Schoenbrunn Village. A lifelong resident of Tuscarawas County, Immel of Dover has been working at the village since May. He and his staff will host the fall lantern tours in the village Sept. 27-28 from 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Immel has a bachelor’s degree in history from Kent State University and has experience working at Zoar Village and Fort Laurens in Bolivar.
“Things are going really well. I’m really excited to be here. I’ve been blessed with a really nice staff and great support from Ohio History Connection and the local community,” Immel said. “We’re really excited to have the lantern tours and have an event on the calendar.”
Helping at the village this year are visitor service associates Harry Harman and Kayla Gamble and grounds technician Derek Burger.
“People and visitors are going to get to experience what life was like in the 18th century, how Moravians would have lived in the village here at Schoenbrunn or one of the similar villages around us,” Immel said.
Each group of visitors will get a candlelit lantern to explore the village after dark and follow a pathway of luminaries.
“Throughout the village you’ll get to see the fires and smell the fires. So it really puts you back in that time period. I think it’s really important for people to see history, and this event will allow people to step back in time and put on the shoes of the past,” Immel said.
A variety of volunteers will be in the village during the tours to demonstrate everything from candle making to quill writing, and some will be available to explain 18th century firearms and hunting.
More volunteers are always welcome. Call Schoenbrunn Village at 330-808-4815.
“We’re actually doing pretty well (on volunteers) right now. The community has been very supportive, so I’m really happy about that, but I will never turn help away,” Immel said.
There will be some new volunteers at the lantern tour.
“We’re really excited about that. We’ve been providing them with some training and information. So if you’ve come before, I encourage you to come again and see the different stations and experience something a little bit different than last time,” Immel said.
Immel has learned much in his short time working at the village.
“I’ve really gotten to know Moravian (mission) life. I’ve learned a lot and read a lot more in Zeisberger’s diary and some of his other works, which has expanded my historical knowledge about this specific area of Ohio and the native tribes in the area,” Immel said.
It’s a different type of history from what Immel has immersed himself in before, but history is all intertwined. Immel is ready to learn more.
“If there’s one thing you learn from history, it is that you never stop learning. You could study one thing for your whole life and still not know everything. That’s important for people to understand,” he said.
Outside of Immel’s work at Schoenbrunn, he is involved in living history for the Civil War period.
“I think the importance really is to be able to let people see history. It’s a huge thing for the field. By coming to the lantern tours, you’ll get to experience what life was like in the 18th century,” Immel said.
Aside from the lantern tours, after Labor Day the village is open on weekends only through October. Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Immel would like to see a good crowd for the lantern tours.
“I’m hoping that we can bring people in and broaden their awareness of local history and give them a good experience of what life was like back then,” Immel said. “I’m just excited to see some interaction and see an event onsite. This is our only event this year. We’re looking to expand programming in the future.”
Immel said this summer Schoenbrunn Village has had visitors from all over the world including guests from Austria, Australia, Northern Italy, Spain, Nigeria and the Caribbean.
When people look into their local history, they may be surprised at what they have in their backyard. Still, there are other reasons to visit.
“You don’t have to love history to come and appreciate the beauty of the site,” Immel said.
Apple cider and molasses cookies will be served at the event.
Tickets are available at the door or online at www.ohiohistorystore.com. Search Lantern Tour to find presale admission tickets. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for children age 7-17, and free for children age 6 and under. The village is located at 1984 E. High Ave. in New Philadelphia.