Gründungstag Founders Day festival set for Oct. 11 in Gnadenhutten

A new, one day festival is set to take place on the grounds of the Gnadenhutten Historical Park Oct. 11. Gründungstag, a German word for Founders Day, will focus on the history of Gnadenhutten with many fun and educational activities throughout the day.

The new festival is in line with the mission of the Gnadenhutten Historical Society to preserve the significant history of the village. The Gnadenhutten Massacre impacted the territory and nation when 96 Christian Delaware Native Americans were brutally killed March 8, 1782, by the Pennsylvania Militia.

The massacre still has relevance today and visitors from around the country and the world visit the site each year.

“We want people to know what an interesting place they are from and the purpose of the Gnadenhutten mission,” Andy McMcMillen, GHS president, said.

To do that, the GHS members want to get others interested in the history, engage the community, reach younger generations and others outside the community. The festival serves to share the unique skills and heritage of the Moravian village.

Demonstrations throughout the day include spinning and dying wool, candle dipping, primitive weapons, basket weaving, cider press, soup cooking, animal husbandry, apple butter, and medicinal herbs. Though not a craft show, those providing the demonstrations will have the option to sell their products.

The festival will feature a concession stand, bean soup and cornbread beginning at 4 p.m. A kid’s tent will be available with a scavenger hunt, coloring, period games, and pre-made crafts and craft kits (a fee may apply to pre-made crafts and craft kits.)

The crock auction will be changed a bit.

“The design of the crock is going to be more useful than decorative,” McMillen said. “It will be a jug and it's going to have a stopper and be functional.”

The festival has interesting speakers and a local musician lined up throughout the day.

Mark Falhaber of the New Lexington area is a member of the Archeological Society of Ohio; he will present a program on the local artifacts. He had visited the GHS museum and was impressed with their collection of artifacts.

“He's going to identify some items, and share terms, and talk about a different time. He's a marvel of information,” McMillen said.

Artist and author Alan Fitzpatrick has done much research in Canadian and British archives.

“A lot of his angle is from the Native American and British side of the story, which I find very interesting because we get a heavy dose of the American side here,” McMillen said.

Fitzpatrick’s focus will be on the Delaware culture in the Tuscarawas Valley and what led them to invite Zeisberger and the Moravians to the area.

Area musician Josh Compton will present Sounds of the Southern Tuscarawas Valley. Festival organizers are excited to add the artistry of blending music with history and provide something for everyone.

McMillen hopes the story telling at the community fire will be like a live podcast of sorts. A history teacher at Indian Valley High School, McMillen and local historian and re-enactor, Seth Angel, will lead the story telling.

“We will be talking through the Gnadenhutten Massacre story, and we want to allow it to be an opportunity for people to ask questions,” McMillen said.

The museum and grounds will open to the public at 10 a.m. At 2 p.m., Mark Falhaber will lead a presentation and discussion on local artifacts. Music by Josh Compton, “Sounds of the Southern Tuscarawas Valley,” will follow from 3 to 3:30 p.m.

A cemetery tour is scheduled for 3:45 to 4:30 p.m. At 4:30, author and artist Alan Fitzpatrick will present “Prelude to the Mission at Gnadenhutten: The Native American Story in the Ohio Country.”

Compton will return for another music session from 5:30 to 6 p.m. A crock and specialty item auction with auctioneer Bob Hall will take place from 6 to 6:30 p.m.

The evening will conclude with a community fire at 6:30 p.m., featuring stories shared by local historians Seth Angel and Andy McMillen.

The museum grounds are located at 182 Cherry St. in Gnadenhutten.