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A Publication of the Zoar Community Assocition
FALL 2013 www.historiczoarvillage.com
The ZCA MissionTo 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 InsideZoar Bible Donation 1Contact Block 2Meet the Board
2New Members 2 Who was Alexander Gunn 3Hotel Opened 3Highlights
4New Web Page, Quilt Square 5Upcoming Events 6New News 7
Artifact of the MonthThis 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 whatit is? Be the first
person to e-mailthe correct use of this item and receive 4
complimentary tickets to this year’s Christmas in Zoar event:
zoarinfo@historicZoar village.com
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.
Zoar Bible dated 1723 belonging to Zoarite Johan George
Gretzinger and original letter from Alexander Gunn donated to the
Zoar Community Association
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ZCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Gail Garbrandt RubertMeet the Board
Jon Elsasser,
President330-874-4684/[email protected]
Mark Gaynor, Vice
President330-874-1817/[email protected]
Diane Geis,
Treasurer330-874-3181/[email protected]
Frank Price, Vice
President330-602-8820/[email protected]
Gail Rubert, [email protected]
Bill Bjork330-874-6097/[email protected]
Jeff [email protected]
Darin [email protected]
David Hayes330-874-4509/[email protected]
Rev. Ken [email protected]
Darrell [email protected]
Libby Moffat330-874-4787/[email protected]
Mike [email protected]
Holly [email protected]
Sandy [email protected]
Site Hours for Tours:January-March: Closed
April & May: Sat. 11-4; Sun. 12-4June-September: Wed. - Sat.
11-4; Sun. 12-4
October: Sat. 11-4, Sun. 12-4November & December: Closed
Zoar Store Retail Hours:January & Febuary: Closed
March: Fri., Sat. 10-5; Sun. 12-5April-December: Wed. - Sat.
10-5; Sun. 12-5
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
[email protected]
330-874-3011 or 800-262-6195
PO Box 621198 Main St.
Zoar, OH 44697
www.historiczoarvillage.com
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.
CONTACT US
VISIT US
Like us on Facebook! Search for Zoar Community Association.
There are currently 1,532 Followers!
Follow us on Twitter! Search for Historic Zoar.
There are currently 127 Followers!
Welcome to Our New Members and DonorsNEW 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
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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.
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).
ZOAR HOTEL OPENED TO VISITORSThis 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.
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.
Gunn’s “Library” in the Brewery
Alexander Gunn 2nd from left top row
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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.
CONGRATULATIONSCongratulations to Theresa Haskew of New
Philadelphia Ohio. Theresa won the drawing for the replica Zoar
bench.
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!
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Upcoming EventsOCTOBERSpeaker SeriesSaturday, October 5, 1p-2p –
FREEChristopher Kenney of the McKinley Museum will discuss some of
the most lasting History Myths. Meet at the Zoar School House.
Harvest Home School DayFriday, 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-5pMust
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 26Learn 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.
NOVEMBERSpeaker Series Saturday, November 2, 1p-2p. – FREEBecka
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 &
30Help us make room for Christmas items at our Thanksgiving weekend
sale. 10-5 Friday & Saturday, 12-5 on Sunday.
DECEMBERSale in the Zoar Store Sunday, December 1Help us make
room for Christmas items at our Thanksgiving weekend sale. 10-5
Friday & Saturday, 12-5 on Sunday.
Speaker SeriesSaturday, December 7, 1p-2p – FREEChristopher
Hart, historian at Roscoe Village, presents “A Christmas Carol
Unwrapped.” Meet at the Zoar Church.
Christmas in ZoarSaturday and Sunday, December 7 & 8Spark
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.
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Yes!
Zoar Community AssociationPO Box 621, Zoar, OH 44697 •
800-262-6195 or 330-874-2646www.historiczoarvillage.com •
[email protected]
WE WANT TO SPONSOR & PROTECT HISTORIC ZOAR VILLAGE
My donation and information are enclosed.
Please consider this a pledge and bill me at this
date___/___/2013.
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS:
$50 $100 $150 $200
$250 $500 $1000 Other: $
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.
Name
Address
Phone
Card #
Exp. Date Code
Name On Card
Signature
Please Charge My Credit Card Immediately Monthly
Check For $ Enclosed(Payable To Zoar Community Association)
2013 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
& VOLUNTEER BANQUET
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.
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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D.L. Brown, LLC-Quality Roofing ServicesSlate Repair - General
Home ImprovementsNew Philadelphia, OH 44663330-339-7040
Zoar Stitchery-Quilting and Sewingin the Historic Zoar Sewing
House10874 State Route 212, Bolivar, OH 44612330-874-4879 •
www.zoarstitchery.com
Springhouse Primitives18th century penny rugs-hooked rugs198 SR
212 (located in the Zoar Store), Zoar, OH 44697330-413-3503 •
www.springhouseprimitives.com
Wilkshire Banquet Center474 Jeanne Anne Lane Bolivar, OH
44697330-874-3600 • [email protected]
Whitemyer Advertising 254 E. 4th St., Zoar, OH 44697330-874-2432
• www.whitemyer.com
Ruetenik Tree Farm9976 Welton Rd. NE, Bolivar, OH
44612330-874-2688
The Keeping Room Bed & Breakfast and Antiques in the Wash
HouseP.O. Box 614, Zoar, OH 44697330-874-3181
www.thekeepingroombandb.com • [email protected]
Fire House Grille & Pub162 Main St., Zoar, OH
44697330-874-2726 • www.thefirehousegrilleandpub.com
Canal Tavern of Zoar8806 Towpath Rd. NE (just outside of Zoar),
Bolivar, OH 44612
330-874-4444 • www.canaltavernofzoar.comeat@canaltavernof
zoar.com
Goodings Nursery & Landscaping4375 Cumberland Rd.,
Sherrodsville, OH 44675 740-269-7685 • www.goodingsnursery.com
[email protected]
Zoar Market9466 SR 212, Bolivar, OH
[email protected]
Blooms Printing, Inc.4792 N. 4th St. Ext. SE, Dennison, OH
44621740-922-1765 • www.bloomsprinting.com
[email protected]
Thank You to Our SponsorsRepublic Services-County Wide3619
Gracemont St. SW, East Sparta, OH 44612330-874-3855 •
[email protected]
Zoar Golf Course 8229 Dover Zoar Rd. NE, Dover, OH
44622330-874-4653 • www.zoargolf.com
Zoar School Inn Bed & Breakfast P.O. Box 509, Zoar, OH 44697
216-927-3700 • [email protected]
Oakshadows Kennel Plus 7665 Middle Run Rd. NE, Dover, OH
44622330-343-7233 • www.oakshadowskennel com
Westbrook’s CanneryP.O. Box 435, Zoar, OH 44697330-874-8120 •
[email protected]
Leonard Insurance Services4244 Mt. Pleasant St. NW, N. Canton,
OH 44720330-266-1904 • www.leonardinsurance.com
Lebold-Smith Funeral Home248 Park Ave., Bolivar, OH
44612330-874-3113 •
[email protected]
PRESORTED STDUS POSTAGE
PAID MAILER’S CHOICE
ZOAR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONP.O. Box 621Zoar, OH 44697
The Zoar Star is published quarterly by The Zoar Community
Association
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.
savingplaces.org/treasures/village-zoar
