Museum helps keep the Swiss in Little Switzerland

Becky Detwiler, curator at Alpine Hills Museum, wasn’t born in Sugarcreek, but she has a passion for the village, especially for keeping alive the Swiss traditions for which Sugarcreek has become so well known.

On Aug. 1 Detwiler opened up the doors of the Alpine Hills Museum and presented an open house in honor of Swiss Heritage Day.

On Aug. 1, 1291, a trio of tribal leaders in Switzerland met on a hillside and vowed to unite and remain loyal to one another to fight against the Habsburgs, the ruling dynasty in Austria that was threatening Switzerland at the time.

The Federal Charter of 1291 is one of the oldest surviving written documents of an alliance and was drafted between Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden, the founding cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy.

“It was all about the taxes; it always seems to be about the taxes,” Detwiler said. “They felt the taxes were too high on the peasants, and they were going to resist.”

The Habsburgs invaded, but time and again, the Swiss canton people used primitive methods and fended off each charge.

The Aug. 1 date is marked as the day Switzerland began, and in keeping with that tradition, Detwiler was adamant Sugarcreek shares that date by celebrating and honoring the Swiss people who stood their ground.

“I am determined to focus on this day as the original day to officially celebrate Swiss National Day,” Detwiler said. “They have huge celebrations in Switzerland on this day. They have parties, and dance, and shoot off fireworks and really make a big deal about this day, and my hope is that we can do the same on this day to keep our Swiss heritage alive and well. I don’t want us to lose that meaning and let our history with the Swiss slip away because this town was built around that heritage.”

Many years ago Fred Welsch moved to Sugarcreek and became a well-known music director at the high school, as well as being known for one other very important Swiss-related talent.

Welsch is a gifted alphorn player, and over the decades, he has not only been the go-to alphorn player, but also has taught many others the art of playing the horn that is beloved by the Swiss.

Welsch was on hand to perform music on the alphorn during the Alpine Hills Museum celebration and spoke to visitors about the horn and its history.

“When I first came to Sugarcreek, many of the people I knew had Swiss heritage,” Welsch said. “Many of the key businesspeople who helped build Sugarcreek were Swiss, and it’s been a big part of this community for many years.”

In addition, the event saw a visit from the reigning Swiss Festival royalty, where reigning Queen Caitlyn Maust and her court dropped by for a visit and a tour of the museum.

“We were excited to have them stop by,” Detwiler said.

Last year Detwiler presented a special Swiss heritage program at the United Church of Christ on Swiss Heritage Day, and this year the museum was the centerpiece of attention. She said she doesn’t yet know what she will create for next year, but she is certain it will be something fun, educational and important to the continuation of promoting the area’s Swiss heritage roots.

“I continue to get a lot of support from people who encourage me to keep honoring our heritage on this day,” Detwiler said.

Detwiler said one touching visit came from a local girl and her mother. She said the 9-year-old girl had lived in Sugarcreek her entire life but had never been to the museum. She saw the advertisement for the event in The Bargain Hunter and asked her mother to take her.

The two came and spent a long time exploring the many historical displays and memorabilia throughout the museum, and Detwiler said upon hearing the girl’s story, she wanted to do something special for her.

“I offered her postcards and gave her a mini brick, and she kept thanking me and thanking me,” Detwiler said. “Here this little 9-year-old girl wanted to come visit the museum, and it really touched my heart because that younger generation is the one that is going to carry on the history of our Swiss heritage. I was so excited, and there is so much history that she took in. I think she really had a great time exploring everything in here.”

Moments like that are why Detwiler is so passionate about sharing this day in history with as many people as possible, and keeping the stories and memories of the Swiss alive is something she believes is important to her, the community and all who call Sugarcreek home.

Alpine Hills Museum is located at 106 W. Main St. in Sugarcreek. Call the museum at 330-852-4113. To learn more about Swiss heritage and items in the museum, visit www.alpinehillssugarcreek.com.