Historical Society to visit Knupp Church in Rittman

Members of the Smithville Community Historical Society will visit Rittman Historical Society’s Gish House and the Old Knupp Church on Monday, June 4. The members are to arrive at the church at 14300 Decourcey St. in the middle of the cemetery at 4:30 p.m.

The church was built in the early 1800s and then rebuilt after a fire in 1852. The steeple was hit by lightning in 1923, and the church was then empty until 1960 when it was ordered demolished.

The Rittman Press organized a drive to save the building. Members and attendees will learn the building had a number of other stories as well.

Members will travel to 28 Gish Road to visit the 1859 home of Jacob Gish, a local tobacco farmer. The house was moved from its original location to serve as a history center for the Rittman Historical Society.

The tour should be completed around 6:30 p.m. when members will travel to Wadsworth to have dinner at Applebee’s, which is located at 1020 High St.

Reservations must be made by June 1. Call 330-669-3969.