Gnadenhutten High School - Goal Yearbook (Gnadenhutten, OH)

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14 THE GUAL. THE HISTORY OF GNADENHUTTEN The Village of Gnadenhutten is situated on the east bank of the Tuscarawas river. lt was an Indian religious and industrial ccntcr, founded by Zeisberger and the Brown Brethren in 1772, and which was brought to such a cruel and untimely end by Wl1ll8lHS0ll'S expedition. On that memorable eighth day of March, 1782, the Christian Indians were by strategy captured and imprisoned in their mission houses, where they were confined and then led out singly and killed with a co0per's mallet. Only two youths escaped death. The village was destroyed by fire and nothing left but the ashes and charred bones of the ninety martyred Indians. This sad event is commemorated by a large monument made of Indiana limestone, 56 feet, 7 inches high, and costing S3,000, w'hich was erected on the site of the Mission Church, and is annually visited by many people from a distance. The site of the missions was on the east bank of the Tuscarawas river, on what might be called the third terrace above the river bottom. This location was character- istically chosen because of its security from hard storms, and high water, its prominence over-looking the low river bottoms on which the red men raised their crops of Indian corn. Quite naturally then, fifteen years later, when Heckewelder, William Edwards, and four Indian brethren returned to this section of the great western territory, from their temporary stopping place near Sandusky, Ohio, that they decided to locate the new settlement for white people as near to the former-.mission site as possible, where their brethren and kindred had so cruelly been put to death. No wonder that after so long and weari- soine a journey, Heckewelder wrote the fol- lowing, when they had set foot on these familiar grounds: It was a very pleasant thing and we held it to be a good omen, that so many birds in branches of the surrounding trees lifted up their voices and sang sweetly as if to express their gladness at our coming. On Sept. 29, 1798 Heckewelder moved into the first house situated on the present corner of VVest Main and Cherry streets, now the site of E. B. Campbell's residence. For five years this was also the meeting place for the community which soon became established here. This resulted in the or- ganization of a Moravian congregation on July 6th, 1800. New cabins were built, and in 1803, the first log church was erected on the south side of West Main street, between the houses of R. Everett and A. E. Milligan. It was dedicated July 10th and Rev. David Zeisberger, then stationed at Goshen, preached the dedication sermon. This building also served as a school house until 1843, when the first low, one-roomed, public school-house was built on the east side of North Walnut street, on the lots now occu- pied by the homes of G. J. Gray and his son Roger. On Aug. 13th, 1820, they started to build the second church, some feet east of the Hrst one, on the lot now occupied by L. Williams. The first parsonage was built on the cor- ner of West Main street and Cherry, the present site of D. Kennedy's residence. David Peter built a house on Cherry street where Reuben Mohn now lives, which served both as store and dwelling. Jacob Winsch built a house on the corner of West Main and Cherry streets, where O. Gray now lives. The first mill of Gnadenhutten was a lit- tle hand-mill set on a post in the middle of West Main street, in front of D. Kennedy's residence, on one side of the street, and 0. Gray's on the other. The residents used this mill to grind their corn to make corn cakes, and it is at present in the care of W. T. Van Vleck. Near by they sank a well, and later on sank another in the middle of East Main street, in front of S. Mil1iken's residence on one side of the street, and F. Meyer's, on the other. A Mr. Heidig was the first tin and copper- smith, having his shop at the present site of Mary Myer's property on East Main St. In L. S. Winsch's youth, some of the rem- nants of the first saw-mill were yet evident, protruding from the bank in the vicinity of the rear of Ed. Rank's property on North Cherry street. The second saw mill was built by Lewis Peter.

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1 THR-1 noir. 13 Now' whose work is this? l I V U, 1 -Manifestly their own. Men.are the archi- tects of their respective fortunes.1 l The de- sire to be truly great, must be our standard, then comes the effort to reach that mark, and the Golden Opportunity will 'be yours, if- you persevere, for no one ever failed, who tried hard to reach the goal. ,N 1 VVe, The Boosters of t.he'G.' H. S. have inet a condition, thwarting our efliciency as well as reputation. Unfortunately some of-the pupils have be- come discouraged and to all appearances, have concluded their school career. What a gross mistake, at the very outset of life. aid one they may not befable to correct. If you wish to be successful, a. good educa- tion is absolutely essential. You will dis- cover that when seeking employment, for lrequently one of the questions asked 'is Have you a high school Certificate? Not that you are then supposed to have attained unto all knowledge, but that perseverance linked with good coxnmon sense have prompted your motives thus far, opening the door to greater opportunities. I heard a pupil remark, If I do not pass I will quit school. Parents come to the rescue, what a privilege and duty- is yours 'to en- courage and even compel such 'a' child 'o continue despite adverse circuznstances. Use your parental authority-issue the de- cree and forestall a calamity. Such a i.iis- fortune might have befallen many, had not parents interfered and induced them to con- tinue. If thou hast sipped from the cup of win- dom, many more cups shall not quench thy thirst. , Standing on the threshold between schowl days and life's school the seniors are given to reflection. Looking Lackward they seo ing- happy days that are gone and realize the opportuilties that are lost. The future looks bright but vcry uncertain. Each and cxery one hopes to attain some high ideal. Now they realize the value of an tduca- t.on, and are eager to press on to larger iields and learn more. To the discourage-l youths behind them they would say, Make the uiost of your present opportunities nt- ttnd faithfully to your studios and you will Igexfr rt-get it. On the evening of April 11th, while the large crowd of both old and young of this village and neighborhood that had gathered in the Town Hall Square, to witness the llag-raising, were singing the Star Spangled Banner, led by our band, Old Glory was unfurled to the breeze. Immediately there- after, five of the seven infantry-men detailed to this place, to guard the railroad bridge, tired a. salute to the flag, and then all re- paired to the Hall, which was neatly draped with flags and bunting, for the occasion. The meeting was presided over by the Mayor, Mr. J. M. Wheland, America was sung, prayer led by Rev. J. E. Weinland, and stirring addresses were delivered by lv.l8SbI'S. W. H. Stoutt, of The Chronicle, and Atty. G. W. Reed, both of Uhrichsville. both of the speakers were given the closest attention by the entire audience which coni- pietely filled the hall, and the frequent ap- plause indicated the fact that all fully un- derstood the gravity of the present national situation, so that when tho closing song, the battle tiynin of the Republic was sung, all present seemed to believe that iii- deed- God is marching on,' that o.i.n c...- ze.i-old or young-at this time has an in- dividual duty to perform, and that it niusi be resolutely discharged. Un Saturday evening about 6.30, Good Will Uouncil, Jr. U. U. A. Al. presented a new this to the Public Schools, which was unturled from a staff projecting from the Library win- dow at the school house, while our band play - ed The Stal-Spangled Banner. The presenta- tion was made by Mr. ltlnier Siinniers tclassof 19009 anieinber of the council, and was ac- cepted by Piol. Sindlinger in behalf of the school. The large company then innrclued to the 'l own Hall, where the Hon A. U. ltutf of Dover inadenn impressive patrioticaddress, Mr. A. Pfeiffer' presided at the meeting. The Senioicassisled by th Junior and l iur-h- man boys, gave Slmkespe :rubs famous Ihr- ' . Comedy of Eiroi's as their clacsplnli inthe Town Hall on lfiiday uenii g, May 25Ih. On thc following day, the 20th, aschool pic- nic was hcld, at which the Newcoineistown highschool team plug cd against out boys.

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THE GUAL 15 The first tailor-shop was at the present site, of Joshua Gooding's residence on East Main street. The first tailor being a man by the name of Mohn. The tirst carding machine was built on the east end of Jacob Winsch's lot, now the site of B. Linard's residence on West Main street. The first ferry at Gnadenhutten across the Tuscarawas river was near the division line of Reuben Mohn's and Samuel Wal- ter's property on Cherry street. The ferry- lnan, a Mr. Ingham was drowned while per- forming his duty. The terry was then moved farther up the river opposite North Cherry street. The first weaving establishment was at the present site of Samuel Walters' resi- dence. Adam Dell was the weaver, he had five or six sons who also were employed in weaving. After the Dell's had left the prem- ises, Mr. Diver the iirst doctor at Gnaden- hutten occupied the building. Charles Peter was the first cabinet mak- er, having his shop in a building that was owned by Lawrence Huebner in after years, but which has recently been torn down. Lewis Peter was the first blacksmith. The Guadenhutten cemetery is classed as one of the two oldest Christian burying grounds of Ohio. Schoenbrun being the oth- er, but the latter has long since been ob- literated by the plow. The Missionary Society was granted 12,000 acres of land by Congress for the Mission Station, but after the massacre, it became a burden to the church. So they sug- gested to Congress to retrocede this land and thus relieve them of it, which request was granted. In 1824 by special act of Congress, the iirst village site was surveyed under the super- vision of James Patrick. The town lots brought the small price nt four or the dollars apiece. They surveyed the street running at right angles with the river, making it the unus- ual width of 99 feet on account of the build- ings on it. This street was named Main. All the other streets were made half the width of Main, with the exception of Wal- nut street, which was also made 99 ft. wide. In this survey there were also a number of reservations made, containing the follow- ing provisions: First, at the extreme south end of Cherry street a plot was set apart for a village and Morarian cemetery. Second, the square of lots referred to be- fore as the site of the first and second churches and parsonage were reserved for the Morarian denomination. Third, the block of lots comprising the present town hall square, at the intersec- tion of Main and Walnut streets were re- served for a market lot or public building for the village. Fourth, the two lots opposite the present Moravian church were reserved for a parochial school site for that denomination. Fifth, the lots situated on the east side of North Walnut street, at the intersection of Long Alley were reserved for public school grounds. Thtre were several other reservations to private citizens of this place. The first school house proved to be too small after some years. So a new two-story frame building was erected. In 1850 the third Moravian Church was built on South Walnut street, at the inter- section of Fetter's Lane, and adjoining the Town lot reserved for some public building. ln 1881 the second school house being too small the Board of Education, of this special district, added two more rooms to the build- ing. The increase in attendance was the direct result of the various improvements made in the course of study and grading of scholars by Supt. S. K. Mardis, who had been elected to that position two years be- fore. In 1895, the increase both in interest and attendance in the school, again compelled the Board of Education to erect a new com- modious, two-story brick building, contain- ing six rooms and costing over S13,000. lt was built at the farthest ends of South Wal- nut street. The fourth Moravian church was built in 1903, a brick edifice costing S13,500. A new brick parsonage on adjoining lot was completed in 1916, costing about S7,000. The first M. E. church was built in 1863, and was re-built and remodeled in 1915. Gnadhenhutten was incorporated as a hamlet in 1884, with a board of trustees as Lrontluued ou page Lu. Isl column.