Ohio History Journal

588     Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society in

connection with the articles published. (Applause.)

 

SCHOENBRUNN.

Rev. J. E. Weinland, Chairman of the Committee,

stated that he had not realized the importance of a

written report, but would make a short verbal report.

"Schoenbrunn is the oldest village site in the State. For

years it was believed that Marietta was the oldest town

in the State of Ohio, and then the fact was unearthed

that in 1772 a town was established about a mile and a

half from the present City of New Philadelphia. This

town was named Schoenbrunn -- 'beautiful spring' --

and by the end of the first year there had been erected

sixty houses of squared timber, beside other houses and

lodges for the Indians. The work to us is astonishing,

and a great deal has been written about it during the

past two years. Two years ago the State set aside

$10,000 for the purchase of the site; the committee pur-

chased twenty-four and one-half acres, upon which is a

small building intended for use as the home of the care-

taker. Our county historical society has spent $7,200

for current expenses in connection with this property.

With the approval of the State Department of Educa-

tion we have mailed little pamphlets to schools, and

also to churches, giving a short history of the settle-

ment. Donations have been solicited from pupils in the

schools, and others, to erect a church and a school

house on the sites of the first church and first school

house in the Northwest Territory. These buildings

will be, so far as possible, duplicates of the original

structures. The Missionary who established this little

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Thirty-Ninth Annual Meeting      589

city in 1772 wrote the first school-book used in Ohio --

copies of it are extant -- a spelling book in Delaware

and English, with a number of pages in the back of the

book containing religious information. We are proud

of the reputation of that first school teacher, many of

whose books are in the library at Dover. During the

past summer we charted the two main streets of the old

town; quite a number of relics were unearthed after be-

ing covered for one hundred and forty years -- pieces

of china, little household articles, pieces of flint, joints,

sills and nails from the first church, bones of various

animals including the deer, elk, bear and raccoon, and

a great many articles of intense interest to those who

have seen them. It is hoped that with the aid of this

Society we can secure a further appropriation for the

beautifying of the town, dredging a part of the lagoon

which extends past the spring where the Indians would

come in their canoes and stop to attend church at the

Mission. I am sure that when that place is once com-

pleted and buildings are erected there will be as many

visitors, if not more, at the site of the first town in the

Ohio country as at any other place in the state. I hope

it may aid in bringing attention to the history of our

county and state. I have a number of pamphlets the

committee has had printed, and any one desiring a copy

can secure it after the meeting. (Applause.)

Chairman Campbell stated that three Trustees should

be elected to succeed Messrs. George F. Bareis, Be-

man G. Dawes and Edwin F. Wood, whose terms ex-

pire.

Dr. F. C. Furniss moved, That George F. Bareis,

Beman G. Dawes and Edwin F. Wood be elected Trus-

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590     Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

tees to succeed themselves, and that the Secretary be

instructed to cast the vote of the Society for them.

The motion was seconded by Director W. C. Mills,

and carried. The Secretary cast the vote of the So-

ciety as directed, and Messrs. Bareis, Dawes and Wood

were declared elected Trustees for the term of three

years.

On motion the meeting recessed, to meet at 2:30

P. M.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

President Campbell stated that Rev. J. E. Weinland

would present the bell that rang and tolled over the

first church built west of Pittsburgh.

Rev. Weinland: "It was interesting to discover,

about two years ago, that in the Museum of the Mora-

vian Historical Society at Nazareth, Pennsylvania,

there rested the first bell rung to call people to worship

God in the Northwest Territory; the bell that hung in

the belfry of the first church in what is now the State

of Ohio, built at Schoenbrunn--about a mile and a half

from New Philadelphia. An inquiry was sent to the

officers of that organization, asking whether they

would consent to the presentation of that bell to this

state, the bell to be hung in a reconstructed church to

be built at Schoenbrunn. After the matter had been

discussed, they agreed to make the presentation; they

considered it of sufficient importance to make it the

main matter of business at a meeting held last week,

and the bell was formally turned over to the State of

Ohio, and I take great pleasure to-day in formally pre-

senting that bell to this Society and to the State. It

will be shipped just as soon as the Directors of the His-

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