Cheesemaker Sculpture is in place
Sugarcreek has a cheese-making heritage, especially for producing Swiss cheese. Now visitors can view a 450-pound bronze cheesemaker sculpture, complete with a cheese cutter, which was put in place Sept. 17 next to the cuckoo clock on North Broadway.
The cheesemaker sculpture was created by sculptor Alan Cottrill of Zanesville. Brent Cottrill, Alan’s son, and Josh Becker, manager of the foundry at Coopermill Bronzeworks in Zanesville, loaded the sculpture on a trailer and traveled to the village.
Bill Green of MEB Systems Inc. of Sugarcreek used a crane to unload the sculpture and put it at the chosen site. Chad Schindler of Broad Run Cheese donated a copper kettle for the new green space. The site will have a plaque detailing the history of the local cheese industry.
“It took my dad about eight months to create a suitable design, then assemble and cast the sculpture,” Brent Cottrill said.
“The sculpture represents the history and a large part of the village and its Swiss immigrants that produced Swiss cheese. Some of the smaller cheese houses are no longer in business; however, they were so important,” Mayor Walt Wilson said.
According to Wilson, the cheesemakers donated funds remaining after the Ohio Swiss Cheese Association was dissolved in 2021. Funds also came from the village and fundraisers. The project cost about $100,000.
The Ohio Swiss Cheese Association was founded in 1918 by Swiss immigrants, and when it dissolved, there were only three members representing the association. In the early 1800s, there were more than 100 cheese houses in the area.
“We had so many serious donors to help with this project. There is a green space, newly remodeled restrooms, tables, a gazebo (not installed yet) and a place for visitors to relax,” Wilson said. “We also need to thank the farmers and the cheesemaker families for all their dedication to the cheese industry.”
Wilson said in the 1970s the green space site was a gas station owned by Mel and Monie Yoder. It later housed several businesses. Council agreed to demolish the building and use the vacant space for the cheesemaker sculpture and create a green space.
Former Mayor Jeff Stutzman met with Chuck Ellis, president of Pearl Valley Cheese in Fresno, and Richard Guggisburg, president of Guggisburg Cheese in Millersburg, to begin the process for the project. They were consulted on all decisions about the sculpture.
“We contacted Cottrill to help him portray a cheesemaker using a copper kettle and wearing the clothing worn in the early days. The old cheesemakers had two kettles to process the cheese. The process began in a copper kettle to produce Swiss cheese,” Ellis said. “We had great support from the cheese industry families involved in cheese-making. Making cheese was a family tradition.”
Ellis said Stutzman, Wilson, the Ohio Swiss Festival Committee, the Sugarcreek Business Association, and Guggisburg Cheese and Pearl Valley Cheese all worked on the plan.
Ellis did recognize current cheesemakers: Pearl Valley Cheese, Guggisburg Cheese (two plants), Bunker Hill, Holmes and Brewster Cheese Co., Middlefield (original), and Rothenbuhler Cheese.
Until a few years ago, the cheesemakers held five contests to determine the champion Swiss cheesemaker, crowned at the Ohio Swiss Festival. The only contest currently held is at the Ohio State Fair. Pearl Valley Cheese won the state fair contest.
Pearl Valley Cheese has entered its fourth generation producing Swiss and other cheeses. Ernest and Gertrude Stalder began the business, followed by John and Grace Stalder, Chuck and Sally Ellis, and now Kurt Ellis, Thomas Ellis and David Birch, a nephew.
The cheesemaker sculpture was dedicated on Sept. 26 during the Ohio Swiss Festival, which concludes Sept. 28.
