Friday, July 30, 2010

Ohio History: Schoenbrunn

Last week I took some time to take my new camera for a "tryout" and where better to do it than one of the many historic sites in my neck of the woods? One of my favorite such destinations is a mere 45 minutes south of me -- or less if you don't drive like an old lady -- (grin)! Schoenbrunn was founded as a mission to the Delaware Indians.

I've watched it grow over the years to its current state of reconsruction and restoration. I'm only showing a couple pictures because I wasn't used to the camera and software yet. In fact, I was wandering about the village snapping my little heart out and suddenly message appeared: Out of Memory. I hadn't bothered to look at the card and later discovered that it really didn't have very much memory on it. That is being remedied as I type but it did cut my photographing short.

Here's a typical cabin that the Native Americans built -- quite rustic with a fire pit in the center. That changed as the missionaries introduced them to the tools they used.



Here's a cabin (and interior) typical of the missionaries living quarters:





I had the good fortune to meet the candlemaker. She's one of the many volunteers who give their time to the village and was a font of information about the village and its history. (I also learned that weekends and Thursdays are the best days to see the artisans.) Alas!!! It was Friday.



The schoolhouse is one of the few buildings that almost totally restored. The missionaries not only taught their converts religion -- they educated them.



I'm going back again soon and I'm also planning to visit some other favorite sites so watch this space. LOL

Hope y'all are having a great day!!!!!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!

Kay

17 comments:

  1. Kay,
    How much fun you had getting these great photos. I too have had the frustration of running out of memory or having batteries that need re-charging. I hope you go back and take more to share with all of us.

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  2. Interesting photos. Some of it reminds me of Fort Clatsop at the coast where Lewis and Clark spent a winter-- no school though...

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  3. Seeing your photos makes me happy I did not live back then. Too rustic for me!

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  4. Oh, I LOVE seeing this wonderful place and I look forward to seeing other wonderful places in your neck of the woods. It is like getting a special free trip to Historic places I would, no doubt, see any other way....!

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  5. Great that you have a new camera to experiment with. I used to love going to such historical villages when I was younger. My one grandfather lived in such a humble cabin and so it was fascinating to think of what it was like way back then. Now, I wonder whether the young generation have the imagination to picture such a living. Some of the NGOs I work with in various countries in Africa are run by people who can work various communications on the Internet and still live in such humble abodes.

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  6. Mighty fine photos Kay.I like to visit places like your Shoenbrunn. In eastern Ontario there is Upper Canada Village that is very similar to Shoenbrunn.

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  7. It's interesting that Schoenbrunn is named after a castle in Vienna. I wonder how that happened.

    My family was from Ohio originally and I was told I was related to Platt R. Spencer. He was an educator in Geneva and developed the Spencerian penmanship. I would love to visit Geneva on the Lake. My mother was born there.

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  8. I run into the "out of memory" error message almost daily. It clears up just a little bit after I've had my morning coffee.

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  9. Maria: I always carry a 6-pack of extra batteries but the card escaped me. I have a 4GB card coming soon. And yeah, I'm going back. I might even go down for the lantern tour in the fall except I hate driving at night.

    Rain: When I go back, there will be more!

    Judy: Our ancestors were tough, weren't they? When the going gets tough. I remind myself that I come from sturdy pioneer stock and therefore I can get through anything!!!

    Naomi: Thank you!!! I've been fascinated with history since I was a child. I inherited that from my dad.

    Lia: I'm always amazed that such rustic condituins still exist.

    GFB: Glad to hear that you folks up north are preserving history.

    Darlene: Schoenbrunn means "beautiful spring" in German and the missionaries were from Moravia which is now part of Germany so . . .

    I love Geneva-on-the-Lake -- it's a pretty and fun little resort town with a great beach. In my college days at Kent State, it was a favorite place to spend holiday weekends hell-raising --
    Sort of Fort Lauderdale north!!
    LOL If I get up there, I'll take photos.

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  10. Great photos Kay....

    I need to recharge my camera battery right now...just haven't done it yet.

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  11. Education and photos! Score!

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  12. It is very different from the Schoenbrunn in Vienna. In fact, the contrast between the austere village in the New World and the old world gradeur of that palace is striking1

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  13. I never would have survived those early days!! Great virtual trip, Kay! Loved it!

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  14. Anonymous9:09 PM

    Hi Kay- I am trying to post mey comments via the anonymous option, as suggested by another blogger blog.
    I loved this post. I really enjoy learning about the history of places, trying to picture the people in their everyday lives. This looks like a very interesting spot. Thanks! Oh, this is alwaysinthebackrow.

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  15. I love pioneer village type places. Your new camera is serving us all well.

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  16. Your comment about "driving like an old lady" reminded me of a recent Betty White line on the new show "Hot in Cleveland".

    Ms. White's character - an older lady - comments that she is really a very good driver, but she likes to drive slowly just to mess with the other driver's heads.

    LOL

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  17. Anonymous7:07 PM

    It's nice to know something new and lovely photos to accompany this nice historical entry!

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