Ohio History Journal

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632 Ohio Arch

632       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

 

Quarterly but all numbers are promised from the printer before

the close of the calendar year.

From this brief report it will be seen that the publications of

the Society are increasing in volume and value.

(Signed) JOSEPH C. GOODMAN,

Chairman

SCHOENBRUNN

Your committee has been steadily at work throughout the

year in seeking to make the Schoenbrunn Memorial Park one of

the outstanding historic spots of Ohio.

An appropriation of $7,500 by the previous Legislature en-

abled us to secure three important tracts of land, viz., the "White

Tract," of eight acres, for $3,000; the "Brown Tract," of eleven

acres, for $1,600; and the "McDevitt Tract," of five acres, for

$2,245. The "Brown Tract" embraces the right wing of the

lagoon which is an important link in the plan of development.

The "McDevitt Tract" squares the State land on the east. The

"White Tract" was the most important of all, because the Com-

mittee had for some time been of the opinion that the Schoen-

brunn Cemetery would be found on this tract. Great was the

satisfaction of the Committee therefore, when on March 12, 1927,

the first grave was discovered after less than four hours of

digging.

During the next three weeks forty-four graves were found.

We have David Zeisberger's record of forty-one of these burials,

and their custom of burying the men, women, boys and girls in

separate rows will enable us, we hope, eventually to mark every

grave correctly. We were even enabled to discover twenty-four

of the post holes around the cemetery.

The present Legislature appropriated $25,000 for the pur-

chase of land and for improvements at the Park. The Legisla-

tive Committee took up its work promptly, and has secured an

option on the Morris farm, of about 114 acres, for approximately

$15,000, and also an option on a tract of about 7 acres, owned by

the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, for $500. Thus by the end of

the year we hope to have approximately 165 acres.

The object of your Committee is eventually to rebuild most

of this, the first town in Ohio, each building to be equipped so

that it will stand as an object lesson of pioneer life. An old pen-

and-ink sketch of the town gives us the location of the Church,

the School House, and eighteen homes, and who lived in each.

Other records discovered in Bethlehem this summer will enable