Schoenbrunn to hold historic event June 21

Schoenbrunn is going back to the basics with a new event focusing on the day-to-day activities that occurred in the village from 1772, when it was founded, to 1777 when it was abandoned due to Revolutionary War tensions.

The event, Everyday Life at Schoenbrunn, will offer interactive activities, demonstrations and hands-on learning opportunities June 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The village is located at 1984 E. High Ave. in New Philadelphia. Tickets are available at the door. Prices are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4 for children age 7-17, and free for children age 6 and under. The event is free for Ohio History Connection members.

“This event focuses on interpreters or living historians and volunteers, typically in period dress, doing things that normal, everyday people would be doing at Schoenbrunn 250 years ago, given that we’re still in the time frame,” said Tanner Immel, site manager at Schoenbrunn Village.

It’s important to schedule these events to keep the village active.

“As we prepare for the 250th anniversary, we’re trying to do a little bit more focus on what people’s lives were like who lived here and what tasks they did that often went overlooked,” Immel said.

When it comes to history, many times the focus is on the grander stories.

“It’s also important to put ourselves in their shoes and think about what they were doing day to day,” Immel said. “A lot of it will be more insightful, a little bit more personal in terms of what activities we’ll have as hands-on demonstrations.”

The demonstrations will include woodworking, candle dipping, quill writing, using natural fabric dyes and other activities. Visitors will get to try their hand at some of these activities that an inhabitant of Schoenbrunn Village would have done in everyday life.

New museum exhibits were installed in September 2024 at the village. The Ohio History Connection collaborated with tribal partners and the Moravian Church to create the displays.

“We want to encourage people to come out and learn about the people who came before us in Tuscarawas County and spotlight the village because it was the first real settlement here,” Immel said. “They can come and tour the village and talk to people that are in period dress and get a little bit of a better understanding of what tasks they would have done. And we might even put them to work with some chores. If you’re willing, you can learn and play too.”

Immel said the event is an add on, and the admission price is the same as regular daily admission.

In addition to the demonstrations, the event also will cover the mission settlement culture. The villagers added twice daily services at the church called quarter-hour ceremonies because they were 15 minutes in length.

“We’ll be bringing in some historical texts using primary sources, so teaching about primary sources and the importance of writing information down,” Immel said.

The event is geared toward families and the lifelong learner.

The village is planning two other special events this year — Lantern Tours Sept. 12-13 and another new event called Nature Trails in History Nov. 8.

Nature Trails in History will focus on travel in the Ohio Country during the 1700s. For the hike, Schoenbrunn will partner with Tusc Parks and encompass some of the lower levels of Schoenbrunn.

Schoenbrunn welcomes new volunteers of all ages, whether it be individuals or a community-based organization.

“We try and meet them at their interest and also help train them,” Immel said.

Volunteer roles include tour guides to lead visitors through the historic site; docents to provide hands-on interpretative information; event support to assist with special events including setup, guest assistance and cleanup; and the garden crew, which helps maintain the sites interpretive gardens.

Schoenbrunn Village has two new visitor services associates this year. Bella Farley is a former volunteer at Zoar Village, and she is attending Chase Western Reserve University to earn a degree in history. Gabby Bricker is a former disc jockey at WJER, a job that led her to love the area, and she wants to continue to support the community in her new position.

In addition to Immel, Derek Burger serves as grounds technician.

Call Schoenbrunn Village at 330-808-4815 Wednesday through Friday.