Gründungstag attracts history buffs and families 

Many families and history buffs spent the day at a new festival in Gnadenhutten Oct. 11. The Gründungstag festival provided an afternoon and evening of activities and historical speakers at the Gnadenhutten Historical Park.

The park is the site of the Gnadenhutten Massacre. Members of the Pennsylvania Militia, suspicious of the pacifist Moravian Indians, murdered 96 Christian men, women, and children on March 8, 1782.

For history buff, Sharman Hartson, who is a member of the Tuscarawas County Historical Society, it was a chance to visit the site for the first time and learn more information about it. 

“I'm not a native of Tuscarawas County so this filled in some gaps. I've been to Schoenbrunn a lot, and Trumpet in the Land, but never here,” Hartson said.

She especially enjoyed listening to live music by local musician Josh Compton who presented a special program “Sounds of the Southern Tuscarawas Valley.”

"There was a good variety of activities, especially for the kids,” Hartson said. “And you always see people that you know at any festival.”

Aside from speakers, the activities included demonstrations on candle dipping, basket weaving, making apple butter and apple cider, soup cooking, medicinal herbs and more. A concession stand was available throughout the day.

Members of the Gnadenhutten Historical Society were happy with the event, which was changed from the themes of their previous festivals to put more of an emphasis on the history of the original Moravian village.

“I think it was pretty well received,” McMillen, who is also an Indian Valley High School history teacher, said. “We’re blessed today; the weather has been very nice. And I learned a lot.” 

After his cemetery tour, which was attended by about 50 people, McMillen distributed a four-page summary, which talked about Joshua the Mohican Elder, the Conrad Bremer family, David Peter, Hannah Greer, Anna Stockwell, Charles Adolphus Bleck, Michael Uhrich Sr., Godfrey Haga Jr., Gottlieb Demuth, and the monument to the veterans of Tuscarawas County who served in the Revolutionary War and War of 1812.

Speaker Mark Falhaber, a member of the Archaeological Society of Ohio, was impressed with the collection of artifacts at the museum. 

“These are best artifacts because they were all locally found. Sometimes collections get split up and then no-one knows the history,” Falhaber said.

Native American history in the area goes back 12,000 years and before that point not much is known. 

Falhaber spoke about the different types of arrowheads, knife blades and axes.

“They are works of art, they are masterpieces,” Falhaber said adding there are literally billions of artifacts yet to found.

Speaker and author Alan Fitzpatrick spoke about the Ohio Country prior to the settlement of Gnadenhutten and what led up to its founding. The Native American tribes at the time were matriarchal societies, meaning they were led by women. They also did not believe in privately held land. 

Volunteer auctioneer Bob Hall was thrilled this year’s auction of stoneware jugs and several other items, along with donations, brought in $9,260 for the Gnadenhutten Historical Society.

The first jug went to Brotherhood Heating and Cooling for $900, second to Kellen McMillen for $900, Greg Kimble purchased the third jug for $700, fourth to Rick and Traci Gump, $500, fifth to Brotherhood Heating and Cooling for $800, sixth to Greg Kimble for $700, seventh to Jay and Jayson Gray for $600, eighth to Lee and Carolyn Brown for $700, ninth to Jane Miller for $725, and the 10th jug went to Greg Kimble for $850. 

Other items auctioned included a "Tales of the Buckeye Hills" book, which was purchased by Kellen McMillen for $300, a "History of Tuscarawas County" book was purchased by Greg Kimble for $300 and a handmade harvest basket signed “Gründungstag 2025” was purchased by Megan Lyne for $275.

“This is a special place, and we want to do well by it,” McMillen said after the auction. “I appreciate you for coming out, supporting and just attending.”

Stories around the campfire and a discussion of early life in Gnadenhutten and the massacre ended the evening.