Ohio History Journal




Reviews, Notes and Comments 587

Reviews, Notes and Comments      587

industry of its people has erected into a state, which,

though only thirty-fifth in area, has become among its

sisters of the Union fourth in population, and in wealth

exceeded only by New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois.

This text-book is a credit not only to the authors,

but to the publishers as well. By its attractive illustra-

tions, its appropriate maps and its illuminating graphics,

they have produced a work that will make its study

fascinating. Again, we say, its use in our schools should

be general.

 

SCHOENBRUNN ANNIVERSARY

The one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the

building of the first schoolhouse and the first church in

the Ohio country by the Moravian missionaries at

Schoenbrunn near New Philadelphia, Ohio, was most

appropriately celebrated August 20-24, 1922.  The

celebration was inaugurated by a union meeting of the

churches of Dover and New Philadelphia in the Union

Opera House of the latter city Sunday, August 20. The

address was given by Rev. J. E. Weinland, pastor of the

Dover Moravian church, and was a most interesting his-

toric review of the early Moravian settlements in

Tuscarawas County. The address was published in full

in the local papers and is a valuable contribution to the

history of this Ohio country before it was organized as

territory or state.

On Wednesday evening, August 23, a meeting was

held in the Union Opera House of New Philadelphia

under the auspices of the Tuscarawas County Historical

Society. More than 1200 people were present. The

chairman of the meeting, Professor Fred Barthelmeh,



588 Ohio Arch

588     Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

superintendent of the county schools, introduced Dr. W.

O. Thompson, President of Ohio State University, who

delivered a scholarly and inspiring address on the work

of the Moravian missionaries in the Muskingum Valley.

"It would be difficult," he said, "for us in the wildest

flights of imagination to understand the plights and ex-

periences of the early settlers among the Indians who

inhabited this valley. Those men and women who came

here as settlers were men and women who came out of

love for and a desire to render a service to others." He

paid high tribute to the unselfish motives and work of

these pioneers.

There were brief addresses at this meeting by Secre-

tary C. B. Galbreath and Director William C. Mills of

the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society.

The series of celebrations reached its climax on the

evening of August 25 when "The Story of Schoen-

brunn" was presented as a historic pageant in the Union

Opera House of New Philadelphia. The house was

filled to overflowing and nearly 1000 people were unable

to secure admission. The pageant was a success in

every particular. David Zeisberger, the leading spirit

among the missionaries, was brilliantly represented by

Ben W. Cunning, and Rev. John Heckewelder, the asso-

ciate of Zeisberger, by Rev. Theodore Reinke. Nearly

fifty other characters were represented by persons

especially selected for their parts. The plot included

eight episodes from 1772 to 1778, "and brought scenes

in early Ohio days to a graphic realization. Students

of history, local critics of amateur theatricals and ad-

mirers of dramatic ideals were enthusiastic in their

declaration that the spectacle was a worthy and ap-

propriate tribute to the first settlers of Tuscarawas



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Reviews, Notes and Comments      589

County and the founders of the first church and school

in Ohio."

This pageant was so highly appreciated that those

who presented it were prevailed upon to repeat it on the

following evening when a capacity audience again en-

joyed and heartily applauded it.

Nothing so thoroughly arouses and impresses the

events of local history upon the general public as the

presentation of that history in the form of pageants.

This fact has been abundantly demonstrated by a num-

ber of such pageants that have been presented in dif-

ferent parts of Ohio within the past year.

 

 

PROFESSOR CLEMENT LUTHER MARTZOLFF

Professor Clement Luther Martzolff, a life member

of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society

and for a number of years on the Board of Trustees,

died at his home in Athens, Ohio, August 5, 1922. He

was born in Monday Creek Township, Perry County,

November 25, 1869. He had been in failing health for

the past five years but continued his work in Ohio Uni-

versity at Athens until last March when his illness took

a serious turn. In June he was confined to his home

where he remained until his death.

Professor Martzolff was throughout his entire life

a student and a thorough teacher. After leaving the

schools of his county he attended Capital University at

Columbus, Ohio, one year in 1892 and the summer

school sessions at Ohio University in 1896, 1903, 1905

and 1906. He entered the regular term of that institu-

tion in 1904 and was graduated in 1907 with the de-

gree of Bachelor of Pedagogy. He received the Mas-