The Kidron Community Historical Society Newsletter

Volume 28 Winter 2016 Issue 1

The annual business meeting of the Kidron Community Historical Society will take place in the Sonnenberg Village Welcome Center on Tuesday evening, February 23 at 7:00. Following a short business meeting, the program for the evening will be presented by Wayne Liechty and Ray Leisy, explorng the topic, “What You Probably Don’t Know About Money,” Liechty and Leisy will tell about the coins and currency available to the early settlers of Sonnenberg when they arrived in Wayne County. Coins and currency dating from 1800 to the 1870s and now rarely seen, will be on display. Many pieces are obsolete and a few are unique from Wooster, Orrville and Dalton Banks, as well as United States issues. Leisy’s book, Wildcat Banks and Broken Banks of the Wayne County Frontier, will be available for $25. The community is welcome.

Sonnenberg Village 2016 Performance Series Dolley Madison will visit Sonnenberg VillageA first person interpretation by renowned artist Cynthia Janzen of Philadelphia is sure to intrigue her Sonnenberg Village audience. Dolley Payne was born into a wealthy Quaker family who moved to Philadelphia to allow their daughter to be educated. President Thomas Jefferson, a widower, asked her to fill the important, if unofficial, role of White House First Lady. Dolley again filled this key role when her husband, James Madison, became president. A natural hostess, Dolley was able to converse and entertain guests from the United States and Europe at White House events. Since 1999, Ms. Janzen has performed in the person of Dolley Madison in films and documentaries, theaters and schools throughout the United States and in theaters in her native Canada. All are welcome to meet Dolley at 1:00 on Monday, February 22. A limited number of tickets are available for this presentation sure to engage students and adults alike. And perhaps we will leave knowing how to spell her name–with an “e” or without?

Genealogists to meet in KidronSAGA (Swiss Anabaptist Genealogical Association) will meet in Kidron on April 8 and 9 for their annual meeting. Friday is open for touring the area and the Kidron-Sonnenberg Heritage Center and Sonnenberg Village. The evening meal will be at Dutch Kitchen. Saturday morning the genealogists and others interested in studying ancestry and family history will meet in the community building at Kidron Park at 8:30 for business and to learn from several speakers, including keynote speaker Leroy Beachy from Holmes County. Lunch will be catered. All are welcome to attend. Contact Leora Gerber at lmgerber@toast.net for registration details.

Annual Business Meeting

What You Probably Don’t Know About Money

Leave a legacyWhat better way to honor your family than to leave a bequest to the Kidron-Community Historical Society. Donations to the Kidron Community Historical Society can be given in the form of cash, estate gifts, annuities or IRAs, stock and real estate. Check with your financial planner for options specific to your situation.

Cynthia Janzen as Dolley Payne Todd Madison

This 1840 note is for a State Chartered Bank, “The German Bank of Wooster,” which was called a broken bank, since it failed––twice. It has also been called a wildcat bank as it was not backed with gold and silver.

Daniel Ackerman, WoosterEnos & Judy Amstutz, Orrville

Evelyn Amstutz, OrrvilleGlenn & Mary Amstutz,

Silverthorne COGordon & Lorene Amstutz, Kidron

James C Amstutz, Plano TXJohn & Lois Amstutz, Noblesville IN

Ken & Vonnie Amstutz, KidronLois Amstutz, Newton KS

Mahlon Amstutz, Wheat Ridge COOrden Amstutz, OrrvilleRuth Amstutz, Dalton

Sherman & Lavonne Amstutz,Dalton

Richard & Barbara Arter, DaltonJ. & Liz Augspurger, KidronRachel Augspurger, Dalton

Craig Baumgartner, Versailes MOWilbur & Connie Bergen,

Porterville CABud & Cathy Berger, LebanonClair & Dorcas Bixler, Orrville

Dave & Penny Bixler, LakewoodJim & June Bixler, Ann Arbor MI

John Bixler, Iowa City IALavonne Bixler, Goshen IN

Mark & Jennifer Bixler, DaltonMichael Bixler, Yardley PA

Samuel & Carol Bixler,Indianapolis IN

Selma Bixler Estate, OregonEileen Blakely, Grants Pass ORRoy & Ruth Bontrager, LoganBruce & Jill D. Breckbill, Kidron

Tom & Rita Burke, Fishers INMarianne Cameron, Dalton

Sandi Caskey, OrrvilleBill & Ruth Detweiler, Kidron

Dominion Foundation, Andover MARodney & Melody Driver,

Harrisonburg VAP. Graham Dunn, Dalton

Eastwood Manufacturing Ltd.,Orrville

Everence, KidronG & G Farms, Apple Creek

Anna Gehman, Apple CreekGladys Geiser, Dalton

Harvey Geiser Family, WoosterPearl L. Geiser, Mt Gilead

Gerber Feed Service, DaltonGerber Lumber & Hardware, Kidron

Gerber Wood Products, KidronCletus & Lee Gerber, Dalton

Dave & Leora Gerber, DaltonDorothy Gerber, Dalton

Gerald & Sue Gerber, Apple CreekGlenn & Phyllis Gerber,

Apple CreekJim & Germaine Gerber, Orrville

Lillian Gerber, KidronWallace Gerber, Dalton

Gerber’s Poultry Inc., KidronGlen & Ann Groh, DoverCarolyn Haas, Navarre

Rick & Annette Harnish, Flanagan ILDavid Hershberger, Moore SC

Himes, Slater & Hershberger, LLC, Kidron

Harley & Margaret Himes, KidronDenny Hofstetter, Kidron

Jim Hofstetter, Omaha NERich & Mary Hofstetter, Wooster

Howard & Lois HoldsclawPurcell OK

Home Appliance Company, Inc.,Massillon

Amos Hoover, Ephrata PAMargaret Hostetler, Wooster

William Hostetler, WoosterLudwig & Margaret Huck, Wooster

Hummel Group, Inc., OrrvilleCarl & Anne Jantzen, Seven Mile

K & M Builders, KidronGlenn & Gloria Kaufmann, Orrville

Kidron Auction, Inc., KidronKidron Community Council, Kidron

Kidron Electric, Inc., KidronKidron Kars, Inc., Kidron

Kidron Supply - Water Treatment, Apple Creek

Kidron Town & Country Store, KidronKidron Vinyl, Dalton

Walter & Karen Kime, AshlandJames & Damaris Kirchhofer,

Honolulu HIEldon & Wava Kornhaus, KidronDoug & Donna Kratzer, DaltonVeryl & Miriam Kratzer, Dalton

L.E. Sommer, Kidron Inc., KidronLehman’s, KidronBeverly Lehman

Vancouver, BC CanadaBrent & Claudia Lehman, Mt. Eaton

Celia Lehman, OrrvilleElton & Phyllis Lehman, Mt. Eaton

Gilda Lehman, DaltonJames & Dorothy Lehman,

Harrisonburg VAJay & Emma Lehman, Kidron

Lloyd & Esther Lehman, DaltonLouie Lehman, Albany OR

M. David & Lois Lehman, KidronCharles & Shirley Lehmann,

Ann Arbor MIRay & Allyson Leisy, Wooster

Wayne & Joanna Liechty, KidronLogee, Hostetler, Stutzman &

Lehman, WoosterMassillon Woman’s Club, MassillonAgnes Steiner-McComas, Dalton

Bill & Kay Medford, DaltonDan & Ruth Miller, Dalton

David & Brenda Miller, MillersburgGlenn & Diane Miller, Apple Creek

Lester Miller, DaltonMarvin & Violet Miller, Glendale AZ

Bill & Karen Mishler, DaltonMark & Marilyn Moffett,

N Kingstown RIMichael Moser, CantonVirginia Moser, Orrville

Herman Myers, WoosterJeff Nafziger, Archbold

Shirley Nettnin, Champaign ILAnna Neuenschwander, Orrville

Harlan & Mary Neuenschwander,Dalton

Harry & Viola Neuenschwander,Salem

Mahlon & Sharon Neuenschwander, Manheim PA

Ray & Mary Norr, Kidron

Dale & Arlene Nussbaum, DaltonDavid & Eldina Nussbaum, OrrvilleGary & Pearl Nussbaum, Dalton

Herman Nussbaum Family,Apple Creek

Jim & Dee Nussbaum, KidronRay & Joan Nussbaum, OrrvilleRich & Judie Nussbaum, Dalton

Tom Olson, Plain CityKip & Carolyn Patterson, ColumbusSteven & Colleen Parker, Canton

Heidi Petach, CincinnatiHeinz & Rosa Peter, KidronRoger Pinkley, Glendale AZPhil & Myriam Raber, Dalton

Kent & Rita Richard, Talmage PAJames & Anna Jean Rios,

Brookfield ILBob & Joanne Romey, Dalton

Margaret Saurers, WoosterSchloneger’s Old Fashioned Ice

Cream, KidronMarilyn Scotti, Parma

Smithville Garden Club, SmithvilleRalph & Lila Smucker, Smithville

Claren & Jean Sommer,Independence

Don & Linda Sommer, Apple CreekFritz & Ellen Sprunger, Orrville

Jedd & Nanette Sprunger, DaltonJohn & Janet Sprunger, Kidron

Tim & Sheila Sprunger,Northbridge MA

Mildred Stauffer, FredericktownBruce & Sherri Steiner, Apple Creek

Chester Steiner, KidronClayton Steiner, Orrville

Dean & Prudy Steiner, DaltonMarion & Ellen Steiner,

Temperance MISheldon & Brit Steiner,

Washington, DCTyler & Jess Steiner, Canton

Frances Stermer, CantonMeta Stevenson, Delaware

Strauss Veal Feeds Inc.,N Manchester IN

Terry & Cindy Strubbe, WadsworthMyrle Trefney, Dalton

Jacob & Ruth Troyer, DaltonMilt & Ann Troyer, Kidron

Grayden Tschantz, LouisvilleVT Hackney - Kidron Division, Kidron

Village Printing, Inc., KidronWadsworth Historical Society,

WadsworthAda Mae Weaver, Dalton

Harry & Edna Weaver, DaltonWeaver Commercial Contractor,

Inc., WoosterWeaver Heritage Community,

WoosterWenger Excavating, Inc., DaltonWeyrauch’s Pharmacy, Kidron

Harry & Meg Wilkins, DaltonAl Withrich, Dalton

Richard & Sharon Wolf, ColumbusWoodland Mulch, LLC, OrrvilleAdeline Yoder, Indianapolis INR&C/Yoder Family Veal, KidronPolly Zimmermann, Chicago IL

Doris Zuercher, Orlando FL

2015 Kidron Community Historical Society Donors

Upcoming EventsJanuary 23 | 2:00 pm

UpriverCeltic, Appalachian, Bluegrass and

American Folk MusicSonnenberg Village Welcome Center

February 22 | 1:00 pmCynthia Janzen as Dolley Madison

Sonnenberg Village Welcome Center

February 23 | 7:00 pmKCHS Anual Business Meeting

Sonnenberg Village Welcome Center“What You Probably Don’t Know About Money”

Wayne Liechty and Ray Leisy

March 12 | 2:00 pmBack Porch Swing Band

Sonnenberg Village Welcome Center

April 2 | 2:00 pmBob Milne Ragtime Piano

Sonnenberg Village Welcome Center

April 8-9SAGA Annual Meeting

(Swiss Anabaptist Genealogical Association)Kidron Park Community Center

April 25 | 6:00 pmAnnual Members Banquet

Lifetime and Heritage membersand annual members with 2016 dues paid

May 21 | 7:00 pmJericho Road Gospel Quartet

Sonnenberg Village Welcome Center

Remembering

Bernice NussbaumOn August 11 of this past year, Bernice Nussbaum, one of our beloved volunteers, passed away. Bernice had the distinction of volunteering the most hours at the Heritage Center next to Ruth

Gerber. She volunteered from 1996 to 2012 until her health declined. In those 17 years she volunteered 1,216 hours which is an average of 71½ hours a year. Bernice had two passions in her life as she grew older, volunteering and quilting. At the Heritage Center she could do both. She sat at the little quilt set up in the gift shop and warmly greeted visitors that entered the center during each of her four-hour shifts. She served us and the community well and we will miss her gifts of gracious hospitality and fine quilting.

Heritage Center Volunteers

Volunteers generous with their time and resources

J. AugspurgerCentral Christian School

(Bob Troyer, leader; Elliot Bowen, Doug Fisher, Daniel Huang,

Daniel Nussbaum, Kevin Pasho, Alexander Seymour)

Atlee R CoblentzBobby CoblentzMylan Coblentz

Jon FielitzRoland GeiserGlenn GerberToby Hazlett

Bryan HofstetterJim Holtzaepfel

Cliff LehmanJay Lehman

Mike LehmanRay LeisyDan Miller

Jim NeuenschwanderCurt NussbaumRich NussbaumChris Robinson

Sonnenberg Village Volunteers

In 2015, volunteers provided at least 1,398 hours of service at Sonnenberg Village. Some volunteers are modest and do not record their names or time. The following volunteered or provided services at no charge or at a reduced rate, as best we know.

Mark RobinsonVic SchantzPaul Snyder

Clayton SteinerJim Stephenson

Terry & Cindy StrubbeMarv Troyer

Joe Wolf–––

Coblentz Bros., Inc.Coblentz Furniture

Gerber Lumber & WoodGerber Wood Products

Home ApplianceKidron Electric

Kidron Inc.Kidron Supply - Water Treatment

L.E. SommerMCC ConnectionsNancy’s DraperiesRobinson HeatingSecrest ArboretumSteiner TrenchingTignor’s Hardware

Ada AmstutzJudy Amstutz

Ken & Vonnie AmstutzNancy Ganyard

Amos & Erma GeiserRoger Geiser

Ron & LaVera GeiserDave & Leora Gerber

Clint HofstetterEldon KingNancy King

Eileen LehmanJohn Lehman

Marion & Norma MastBill & Kay Medford

Bill MoserClarence & Esther NeuenschwanderBessie Nussbaum

Curt & Gloria NussbaumHeinz & Rosa Peter

Will SchlonegerVernon & Carolyn Shoup

Fritz SprungerMahlon & Jean Steffen

Bud & Jean SteinerRachel SteinerCindy Strubbe

Meg WilkinsCarol Yoder

Upriver: January 23, 2016, 2:00 pm Adult tickets #_________Youth tickets #_________

$___________$___________

Dolley Madison: February 22, 2016, 1:00 pm Adult tickets #_________Youth tickets #_________

$___________$___________

Back Porch Swing Band: March 12, 2016, 2:00 pm Adult tickets #_________Youth tickets #_________

$___________$___________

Bob Milne: April 2, 2016, 2:00 pm Adult tickets #_________Youth tickets #_________

$___________$___________

Jericho Road: May 21, 2016, 7:00 pm Tickets #_________ freewill offering

Thank you and see you at the shows! Total enclosed $___________

2016 Performance Series

TICKETSTicket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for youth 17 and under. All proceeds benefit the work of Sonnenberg Village. This form may be returned with payment made out to KCHS, the Kidron Community Historical Society, PO Box 234, Kidron, Ohio 44636.

New MembersSandi Caskey, Orrville

Farmers National Bank, CanfieldGilbert & Marilyn Geiser, North Canton

Roger Havens, SevilleWes & Sandy Hofstetter, Dalton

Robert E. & Ellen Krabill, UniontownCurt Lehman, Orrville

Marvin & Lorie Troyer, Apple Creek

Sonnenberg VillageThis fall was a busy time for our Sonnenberg Village volunteers. The first floor of the Lehman Spring House has been repaired sufficiently for Marv Troyer to use as a workshop. A new floor was laid, electricity and heat added, some new windows installed and the front partially rebuilt for the winter. With the help of Jim Neuenschwander, J. Augspurger, Steiner Trenching, Dan Miller and Robinson Heating, a gas line was completed from the Welcome Center to the Tschantz Cabin. This summer a furnace and air conditioner will be installed and then the cabin will be available for rent for small events. Other major projects included the installation of a water treatment system for the entire village and a small kitchen in the basement of the Welcome Center. The kitchen was not designed for food preparation, but the small stove and refrigerator will keep food warm or cold, and a sink will be available for cleanup at small gatherings. The kitchen will also give caterers a space to stage dinners.

Heritage CenterForty-one diligent volunteers kept the Heritage Center open on Thursdays and Saturdays, April through November. During these 280 open hours they had the privilege of meeting guests from 36 states and 20 countries. Many nice comments were made about our displays, especially our two-year “Crossroads of Jericho” display upstairs. If you haven’t taken time yet to check it out, it will be available to view during open hours in 2016 or by appointment.

Left behindA dark green folding chair was left at the Sonnenberg Homecoming in August. Call the Heritage Center to claim it.

Members BanquetInvitations to the annual members banquet will be included with the spring “Bit o’ Vit.”

Since November first, Marv and Lorie (Lehman) Troyer are our first renters / caretakers at the Sonnenberg Village, living in the Lehman House.

Board President ................................................ Wayne LiechtyBoard Vice President ..........................................Glenn GerberBoard Treasurer.......................................... Richard NussbaumBoard Secretary ............................................Gloria KaufmannBoard Membership Chairperson .........................Leora Gerber

Individual Annual Member ............................... $15Husband and Wife Annual Member ................ $25Organization Annual Member .......................... $35Individual Life Member .................................... $250Heritage Club Member ...................$1000 or more

Name _____________________________________________________________Address ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________Type of Membership ____________________________ New RenewalMembership Fee $_________ General Donation $____________Would you like a receipt? Yes No Thank you!

Send checks to Kidron Community Historical Society ● Box 234 ● Kidron, OH 44636

NonprofitOrganizationPostage PaidWooster, Ohio

44691Permit No. 228

Kidron Community Historical SocietyP.O. Box 234Kidron, Ohio 44636330-857-9111kidronheritagecenter@hotmail.comwww.kidronhistoricalsociety.org

Address Service Requested

WIN

TER

2016

Kidron-Sonnenberg Heritage Center13153 Emerson Road ● Kidron, Ohio

OPEN APRIL through NOVEMBER ● THURSDAY and SATURDAY ● 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.CLOSED DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY and MARCH

The Heritage Center is closed December through March but welcomes appointments for tours and to visit the museum or Sonnenberg Village. Call and leave a message at 330-857-9111 for information or to schedule an appointment.

The Kidron Community Historical Society of Kidron, Ohio, founded in 1977, operates under the nonprofit charter granted by the State of Ohio. Your tax deductible gifts will help secure the future of the Historical Society and give you a part in preserving the heritage of this unique community.

AdministrationBoard Member ...................................................... Fritz SprungerHeritage Center Director ......................................Prudy SteinerSonnenberg Village Project Director ..........................Ray LeisyBit o’ Vit Editor ...................................................Judie Nussbaum

Kidron Community Historical Society MembershipAnnual memberships are due in January. Membership expiration information is on your mailing label.