Last Stop: Prison, Penitentiary, and Punishment

A Publication of the Zoar Community Assocition
WINTER 2013
Tracking the Separatists in Germany
The ZCA Mission
To 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 Inside
Tracking the Separatists
Contact Block
Meet the Board
New Members Christmas in Zoar ZCA Volunteer Banquet
Questing Comes to Zoar
Upcoming Events
New News
New Book Featuring Zoar
www.historiczoarvillage.com
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Artifact of the Month
Last Stop: Prison, Penitentiary,
and Punishment
Continuing the saga of the German Separatists, our small group of
Americans traveled deeper into the German countryside to explore the
darker side of the Separatists’ experiences. And their bravery.
As Wuerrttemberg historian Dr. Eberhard Fritz explains, the Separatists ignored
increasing threats from authorities to return to church or suffer the consequences. On
Christmas Day 1803, eleven Separatist men were arrested. One frail young man was
left behind but his father promised to thrash him for his disobedience. The men were
sentenced to prison.
Prison
Somberly, we climbed the hill to the prison, called Hofenasperg Fortress that sits
high above the town of Asperg. Inside, we found a small museum with a guide
who explained the exhibit about the Separatists’ imprisonment. Future Zoar
settler, Stephan Huber, was imprisoned and interrogated (try not to imagine such
interrogation) there for six months in 1805.
Hofenasperg Fortress
Do you know what this item is and
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continued on page 3
ZCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jon Elsasser, President
330-874-4684/330-323-1529
[email protected]
David Hayes
330-874-4509/330-904-7261
[email protected]
Mark Gaynor, Vice President
330-874-1817/330-340-9992
[email protected]
Rev. Ken Hutchinson
330-854-5110
[email protected]
Diane Geis, Treasurer
330-874-3181/330-904-2980
[email protected]
Darrell Markijohn
330-495-4952
[email protected]
Frank Price, Vice President
330-602-8820/330-260-7802
[email protected]
Libby Moffat
330-874-4787/330-309-5126
[email protected]
Gail Rubert, Secretary
330-309-3172
[email protected]
Mike Murphy
330-340-9180
[email protected]
Bill Bjork
330-874-6097/919-356-4721
[email protected]
Holly Shane
330-874-2407
[email protected]
Jeff Eadie
440-785-5746
[email protected]
Sandy Worley
330-874-2600
[email protected]
Darin Good
330-754-9973
[email protected]
CONTACT US
[email protected]
330-874-3011 or 800-262-6195
PO Box 621
198 Main St.
Zoar, OH 44697
www.historiczoarvillage.com
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VISIT US
Site Hours for Tours:
January-March: Closed
April & May: Sat. 11-4; Sun. 12-4
June-September: Wed. - Sat. 11-4; Sun. 12-4
October: Sat. 11-4, Sun. 12-4
November & December: Closed
Zoar Store Retail Hours:
January & Febuary: Closed
March: Fri., Sat. 10-5; Sun. 12-5
April-December: Wed. - Sat. 10-5; Sun. 12-5
Meet the Board Diane Geis
Diane Geis is employed
at TSG Resources,
Inc. as Executive Vice
President of Human
Resources. She has been
with this family-owned
business for over 40
years. With Corporate
offices located in
North Canton, they operate 18 Altercare
Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers in Ohio
and Michigan, the Absolute Companies
including a Pharmacy, Rehabilitation,
Skilled Home Care, Temporary Services and
Billing Services and the Avalon Foodservice
Company in Canal Fulton. She holds a
Professional in Human Resources (PHR)
certification from SHRM and is a member of
the National organization and the local Stark
County chapter. She is also a member of the
2
National Association of Professional Women.
Diane is married to Rick and they just
recently celebrated their 40th Wedding
Anniversary. They have 3 children – Heather
(Jim) Hockensmith of Brewster and Matthew
(Dia) of Canton. Her son, Nathan, is
deceased. Grandchildren are the greatest joy
of Diane’s life and she has three – Skylar (8),
Nathan (6) and Lavinia Rose (2 months)!
Her relaxation hobbies include gardening,
antiquing, reading and traveling. Diane is
active in the Historic Zoar Garden Club.
Diane and Rick operate The Keeping Room
Bed & Breakfast and Antiques in the Wash
House located in the Treasurer’s House in
Zoar. She and Rick love caring for their historic
home and gardens and are deeply committed
to the preservation of historic Zoar village.
Welcome to Our New
Members and Donors
NEW MEMBER
Chuck West
NEW DONORS
Robert N. Beuter
Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Schoeck
ZCA Member Renewal Letters will be in
your mailboxes soon. Please renew your
membership and considering renewing at
a higher level for 2014. Included with the
renewal letter is an Annual Giving card.
Please thoughtfully review the card and
give whatever donation you are able.
continued from page 1
Lake dug by the Separatists…at night!
Later, he inspired Joseph Bimeler to become a Separatist, setting
the stage for their emigration to America in 1817. Huber’s
descendant, Deborah Deal, was a member of our group and had
known little about her brave ancestor. Perhaps fortutiously, we
couldn’t see the actual cells because the building is still used as a
prison, albeit a prison hospital. We were kept well away from the
inhabitants–inmates and guards alike.
Penitentiary
Women were incarcerated in the Ludwigsburg Penitentiary
and, although we didn’t visit it (now a justice administration
and archive building), we do know a few details about the
Separatist women incarcerated there. Their crimes: Insulting
the authorities or refusing to send their children to the state
(religious) schools. Sentences at both the prison and the
penitentiary varied from a few weeks to years. In 1817 both
men at the prison and women at the penitentiary were offered
release if they agreed to emigrate. Three men and two women
refused; the rest were released.
Beatings, lashings, canings, and the pillory (Stephan Huber
experienced all those) were common punishments in addition
to confinement to windowless cells and scant sustenance.
Although such punishments were common for criminals, the
Separatists’ only sins were refusing to follow the state religion
and refusing military service in the interest of the state.
Believing that all men and women were created equal, they
saw no reason to value state authorities, including kings, above
anyone else. For such beliefs, they suffered.
But a unique punishment awaited the Separatists. Because the
Duke of Wurrttemberg desired a lake in front of his castle, he
ordered prisoners to dig it. The royals, however, didn’t want
to see the mess such digging would create, so he ordered the
digging be done at night! This sounds cruel but not as ruthless
as we discovered when we saw the lake and, for myself, a long
walk around it.
Finally, records show that two Separatists died as a result of
their beatings.
Conclusion
What can we conclude about our famous forebearers? That
they were courageous beyond our imaginations; their integrity,
shown by standing for their beliefs despite loss of freedom,
fortune, or life, exceeds anything we could envision.
This concludes my reports of our momemtous trip to our
ancestors’ homeland. Special thanks to Marilyn Gordon for her
meticulous notetaking and to our two historians, Dr. Eberhard
Fritz and Dr. Hermann Ehmer, for detailed information and for
freely answering our many questions.
Eleanor Sullivan is a Bimeler descendant and author of “Graven Images,”
the second singular village mystery, set in 19th century Zoar. Read about
life in the 1800s on her blog: www.EleanorSullivan.com/blog
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Christmas in Zoar Dec 7th & 8th
It isn’t often in this day and age that you can visit a small
quaint wonderfully preserved historic village in Ohio or any
place for that matter that is real, uncontrived and honest in its
integrity. The integrity of Zoar Village in terms of location,
design, setting, materials, workmanship and feeling are all
a part of what makes Zoar stand out among other historic
villages. The level and the number of historic buildings and
archaeological sites in the Zoar Historic District are amazing.
The Zoar Community Association welcomes you to visit during
Christmas in Zoar and see what you can discover as you walk
down the sidewalks and paths of Zoar established in 1817, soon
to celebrate its 200 year bicentennial in 2017.
Historic private homes will be decorated and open for tour as
well as the historic museum buildings decorated in traditional
Christmas style. A special treat this year will be the opening
of the Historic Zoar Hotel lobby and front room for viewing.
This famous hotel was one of Ohio’s most visited tourist
attractions during the late 1800’s, hosting President McKinley,
Alexander Gunn, and many other rich and famous people
from around the Cleveland area. The Zoar Hotel has been
closed for almost 30 years.
Over 40 Regional juried arts and crafts dealers will display
and sell their original handmade wares in the Schoolhouse,
Number One House, Sewing House, Tin Shop and Magazine.
Local Zoar shops will be open for holiday shopping. Children
will enjoy Santa’s Workshop to create their own Christmas
memory, and meet the Belsnickle and the Christ Kind in the
Garden House. This year a camel and other animals will be
in the main garden area. Horse drawn Wagon rides will be
provided throughout the village on Saturday and Sunday.
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What is a German Christmas celebration without food and
music? Brats and other foods will be available throughout the
village, as well as special Christmas menus at both of Zoar’s
local restaurants, The Canal Tavern of Zoar, and The Firehouse
Grille (formally the Zoar Tavern). Musical performances
and choirs will appear around the village and organ music
be played in the Zoar Church. Appearing are; Hoover High
School Choir, Delphian Choir, Tusky Valley Choir, Northwest
High School Choir, Trumpet Singers, Denny Vlahos and
Abbey Kindle, organ music played by Mark Thewes and Robert
Morrisson, Mixed up Strings, and the Alliance String Quartet.
Questing Comes To Zoar!
Questing is following a set of rhymed clues to learn
more about a place or people. At the end of the quest,
participants check into a box in a secret location to
sign or stamp the logbook and collect a stamp for their
questing guide. In northeast Ohio, the Cuyahoga Valley
National Park and the Ohio & Erie Canalway led the
way for new quests and partnerships with local tourism
organizations. Zoar debuts two quests in 2014. The
first quest, “A Child’s Life in Zoar,” will guide visitor’s
through the village to see the buildings where Separatist
children lived, worked, learned, and played. The second
quest, “Waters of the Tuscarawas,” takes guests around
Zoar Lake and explains Zoar’s link to the Ohio & Erie
Canal and the reason for the levee. The quest brochures
will be available in the Zoar Store as soon as they are
ready for the public. Questing will be a way for guests
to learn about the village before or after tour hours
and when the site is closed. We encourage you to check
out the questing page on the Ohio & Erie Canalway
website to find out more about questing: http://www.
ohioanderiecanalway.com/Main/Questing.aspx.
In the tradition of Christmas, a free speaker series event will
be held at 1pm on Saturday in the Zoar Church. Christopher
Hart will perform a fist person rendition “A Christmas
Carol Unwrapped.”
Saturday evening hosts a candle light church service at 5:15 pm
at Zoar’s First United Church of Christ, the original “Meeting
House” of the Separatists, followed by a tree lighting ceremony
in the famous Zoar Garden at 6:00 pm. The sidewalks and
streets of Zoar will be lit with luminaries following the tree
lighting. You may smell the aroma of gingerbread cookies
made from an original Zoarite recipe being baked in the
beehive ovens from the Bakery. Be sure to try a free sample
along with some apple cider and take some home for holiday
treats. Luminaries will light your way along the quaint village
streets in the evening as you walk and ponder what life may
have been like in Zoar almost 200 years ago.
Christmas in Zoar is sponsored by the Zoar Community
Association. Hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and
Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Admission, good for both days of
the festival and wagon rides, is $7 for adults and children under
the age of 12 are admitted free. All proceeds from this event are
used for the preservation of
Historic Zoar Village.
Jennifer Donato, Site Manager
ZCA Annual Meeting &
Volunteer Awards
Ninety people met at
the Wilkshire Banquet
Center in Bolivar
for the 2013 Annual
Meeting and Volunteer
Awards. After lunch
catered by Trax Diner,
ZCA President Jon
Elsasser gave a State of ZCA address, reviewing the
accomplishments and improvements ZCA made in
2013. Elsasser also recognized the Zoar Stars of 2013
who were honored at separate dinners: Chuck Knaack,
Sandy Worley, and Donna Gardner. Guest Speaker
Scott Robinson, President of the Tuscarawas Chamber
of Commerce, highlighted all the contributions Zoar
makes to business and tourism in Tuscarawas County.
Special volunteer awards went to: Ramon Murray,
Donald Beamer, Scott Gordon, Scott Reynolds, Jocelyn
Linnen, Janis Chaffey, Mary Lou Beamer, Marjorie
Furney, Mary Lou Miller, Pat Woodward, Marcie Smith,
Sally Bullock, Al and Geneva Duckworth, Dorothy
Furbay, and Wanda Ring. Distinguished Service awards
went to Sherrie Baughman and Jeanne Graef. The
meeting and awards luncheon ended with a Chinese
Raffle and those attending received excellent prizes.
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JANUARY
Knitting Class
Upcoming Events
Saturdays, January 4, 11, 18, 25, 10a-12p – $40
Learn to knit over four wintry Saturdays in Zoar! In this class,
students will learn to cast on/off, knit stitches and purl stitches
to make a beautiful scarf. $40/person includes all instruction.
Materials purchased on your own.
Weaving Class
Thursday, January 9, 10a-5p – $60
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.
T-Shirt Weaving Class
Wednesday, January 22, 10a-5p – $65
New this year! Bring in 7-9 old t-shirts any size, any colors,
and we’ll show you how to cut them, loop them and weave
them into a very personal rug with memories attached. $65 per
student includes all materials, cutting boards, rotary cutters
and instruction. Classes fill quickly, so call 330-874-3011 to
make your reservation.
Watercolor Class
Thursdays, January 23-February 27, 3p-5p. – $60
A watercolor class for everyone on all levels wanting to learn
new techniques and paint the buildings and landscapes
of Historic Zoar Village. Class meets in the Historic Zoar
Schoolhouse. Instructor Jack Fetzer from Canton, Ohio, will
lead you through the basics of materials layout and design,
and watercolor painting techniques. Cost for the six-week class
is $60. Checks can be made payable to the Zoar Community
Association, PO Box 621, Zoar, Ohio 44697.
FEBRUARY
Speaker Series
Saturday, February 1, 1p-2p. – FREE
Meet at the Zoar School House. Local reporter and amateur
historian Jon Baker will tell ghost stories of Tuscarawas County.
Chase the winter blues with this spine chilling presentation.
Knitting Class
Saturdays, February 1-22, 10a-12p – $40
Learn to knit in historic Zoar Village! In this course, students
will learn to knit a dish cloth and the useful techniques of
increasing and decreasing stitches, as well as casting on/
off. Cost is $40/participant. Materials purchased separately.
Reservations required by calling 800-262-6195. Class limited
to eight participants.
Weaving Class
Monday, February 6, 10a-5p – $60
Enjoy a day of fun learning to design and weave your own
floor rug to take home. Your instructor will teach you loom
and weaving basics on a two harness floor loom. Cost is $65
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which includes all your materials and instruction. The class is
held in the historic Zoar Sewing House, located at 221 W. 3rd
St. in Zoar. Pack yourself a lunch and come to Zoar. Classes fill
quickly, so call 330-874-3011 to make your reservation.
Weaving Class
Saturday, February 18, 10a-5p – $60
Come to Zoar and learn to make your own rag rug using a twoharness floor loom. Your finished project will be at least three to
four feet long with tied off fringe. All materials and instruction
will be supplied. Bring a sack lunch and while away the winter
hours making your own special creation. $65/person. Classes fill
quickly, so call 330-874-3011 to make your reservation.
MARCH
Speaker Series
Saturday, March 1, 1p-2p. – FREE
Meet at the Zoar School House. Local historian Frank Barrett
relates the Civil War Raid across Southern Ohio by General John
Hunt Morgan.
T-Shirt Weaving Class
Thursday, March 6, 10a-5p – $65
New this year!! Bring in 7-9 old t-shirts any size, any colors,
and we’ll show you how to cut them, loop them and weave
them into a very personal rug with memories attached. $65 per
student includes all materials, cutting boards, rotary cutters
and instruction. Classes fill quickly, so call 330-874-3011 to
make your reservation.
Drop Spindle Class
Saturday, March 15, 10a-1p – $40
Spin wool roving into yarn with a drop spindle! Learn the art
of using a drop spindle in Historic Zoar Village. Cost is $40/
participant and includes all instruction and materials. Students
may take home their yarn. Reservations required by calling
800-262-6195. Class limit is six participants.
Weaving Class
Wednesday, March 19, 10a-5p – $65
Basic two-harness loom weaving class held in the Historic Zoar
Sewing House. Hand weave your own colorful rag rug on one
of our looms. Basic weaving and loom instructions along with
all of the materials you will need are provided. Cost of class and
instruction is $65. Pack a lunch and come to Zoar for the day.
Classes fill quickly, so call 330-874-3011 to make your reservation.
Rug Hooking Class
Saturday, March 29 – $85
A one-day beginners class to learn rug-hooking basics, types of
materials to use and hints and techniques. Your project choices for
the class are either a round tabletop piece, or a round chair-seat
cover. Instructor Kim Klingaman is a rug-hooking expert and will
lead you through a day of learning fun. Cost of the class is $85 and
will include all of the materials you will need to complete your
project. Call 800-262-6195 to make your reservation.
We Sit Together –
In Memory of
Jeanne Graef who
passed away on
Nov. 11, 2013.
New Book Features Benches of Zoar
In August, 2011 I had the pleasure of guiding Francis Cape
through several of the museums in the village looking for
Zoar Benches. Cape apprenticed with master carver Dick Reid
before receiving his MFA from Goldsmiths College, London
and then moved to New York City to pursue a career as an
artist. Cape taught me several things about the construction of
benches and kas’ in the Ohio Historical Society collections with
a lovely British accent.
Cape took pictures and measurements, and made drawings of
the benches. He planned a traveling exhibition of reproduction
benches that he would handcraft in much the same way the
original owners built the benches. Cape saw the benches as
a symbol of the intentional communities he studied. The
intentional communities intended to sit together.
Originally installed at Arcadia University Art Gallery,
the exhibition stimulated discussion on the value of the
communal society and the craftsmanship of the bench by
juxtaposing these values with our individualist society and
mass produced purchasing.
The success of the exhibition led to the production of Cape’s
book, We Sit Together: Utopian Benches from the Shakers to the
Separatists of Zoar. It is a history of intentional communities and
a history of craftsmanship. Available in the Zoar Store.
Yes!
WE WANT TO SPONSOR & PROTECT
HISTORIC ZOAR VILLAGE
Jeanne will be missed
by all of us here in Zoar.
Jeanne loved Zoar and
volunteered for the historic
site for nearly 30 years.
CALL FOR BOARD
MEMBERS!
The Zoar Community Association is looking
for individuals interested in leadership
and development with time to commit
to ZCA. The ZCA Board meets several
times a year and board members serve on
committees for events like Garden Tour,
Civil War Reenactment, Harvest Festival,
and Christmas in Zoar, while others serve on
membership, fundraising, and nominating
committees. If you are interested, please
contact the ZCA office at 330-874-2646.
Name
Address
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS:
$50
$250
$100
$500
$150
$1000
$200
Other: $
My donation and information are enclosed.
Please consider this a pledge and bill me at this date___/___/2013.
Zoar Community Association
PO Box 621, Zoar, OH 44697 • 800-262-6195 or 330-874-2646
www.historiczoarvillage.com • [email protected]
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.
Phone
Card #
Exp. Date Code
Name On Card
Signature
Please Charge My Credit Card Immediately
Check For $ Monthly
Enclosed
(Payable To Zoar Community Association)
7
PRESORTED STD
US POSTAGE
ZOAR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 621
Zoar, OH 44697
PAID
MAILER’S CHOICE
The Zoar Star is published quarterly by
The Zoar Community Association
savingplaces.org/treasures/village-zoar
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.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Republic Services-County Wide
3619 Gracemont St. SW, East Sparta, OH 44612
330-874-3855 • www.republicservicesohio.com
[email protected]
Zoar Golf Course
8229 Dover Zoar Rd. NE, Dover, OH 44622
330-874-4653 • www.zoargolf.com
Zoar School Inn Bed &
Breakfast
P.O. Box 509, Zoar, OH 44697
216-927-3700 • www.zoarschoolinn.com
[email protected]
Oakshadows Kennel Plus
7665 Middle Run Rd. NE, Dover, OH 44622
330-343-7233 • www.oakshadowskennel com
Westbrook’s Cannery
P.O. Box 435, Zoar, OH 44697
330-874-8120 • www.westbrookscannery.com
[email protected]
Leonard Insurance Services
4244 Mt. Pleasant St. NW, N. Canton, OH 44720
330-266-1904 • www.leonardinsurance.com
Lebold-Smith Funeral Home
248 Park Ave., Bolivar, OH 44612
330-874-3113 • www.smithfuneral.com
[email protected]
The Keeping Room Bed &
Breakfast and Antiques in the
Wash House
P.O. Box 614, Zoar, OH 44697
330-874-3181
www.thekeepingroombandb.com • [email protected]
Fire House Grille & Pub
162 Main St., Zoar, OH 44697
330-874-2726 • www.thefirehousegrilleandpub.com
Canal Tavern of Zoar
8806 Towpath Rd. NE (just outside of
Zoar), Bolivar, OH 44612
330-874-4444 • www.canaltavernofzoar.com
eat@canaltavernof zoar.com
Goodings Nursery & Landscaping
4375 Cumberland Rd., Sherrodsville, OH 44675 740269-7685 • www.goodingsnursery.com
[email protected]
Zoar Market
9466 SR 212, Bolivar, OH 44612
330-874-4372
[email protected]
Blooms Printing, Inc.
4792 N. 4th St. Ext. SE,
Dennison, OH 44621
740-922-1765 • www.bloomsprinting.com
[email protected]
D.L. Brown, LLC-Quality Roofing Services
Slate Repair - General Home Improvements
New Philadelphia, OH 44663
330-339-7040
Zoar Stitchery-Quilting and Sewing
in the Historic Zoar Sewing House
10874 State Route 212, Bolivar, OH 44612
330-874-4879 • www.zoarstitchery.com
Springhouse Primitives
18th century penny rugs-hooked rugs
198 SR 212 (located in the Zoar Store), Zoar, OH 44697
330-413-3503 • www.springhouseprimitives.com
Wilkshire Banquet Center
474 Jeanne Anne Lane Bolivar, OH 44697
330-874-3600 • [email protected]
Whitemyer Advertising
254 E. 4th St., Zoar, OH 44697
330-874-2432 • www.whitemyer.com
Ruetenik Tree Farm
9976 Welton Rd. NE, Bolivar, OH 44612
330-874-2688