Society

During the summer of 1973, the four members of the Chamber of Commerce Historical Committee met to discuss the organization

of a local historical society. Richard Kern, Dan Anslinger, Jr., D. Kent Southard, and Dolores A.. Grunwald were those responsible for

According to the Articles of Incorporation, granted October 18, 1973, The Historical Society of Germantown was founded with the

purpose of “collecting, preserving, and interpreting historical materials, and dedicated to serving Germantown, German Township and

During the first week of that same month, a membership drive was begun. Several hundred formal invitations were mailed and a

publicity campaign in the newspaper initiated. Membership in the fledging organization was open to any person, corporation, partnership

or institution interested in promoting the purposes of the Society. Dr. Noel and Margaret Watson graciously offered the use of their recently purchased David Rohrer Mansion, A Montgomery County Landmark, for public tour to kick off the membership drive. Almost 1000 people toured the house, 90 of whom purchased Charter Memberships in the Society. At the close of the membership drive December 31, 1973,

To further the cause of preservation, in 1975, the Preservation Committee of the Society, in cooperation with Loren Gannon, Preservationist of the Montgomery County Historical Society made application for a National Historic Preservation District encompassing an 8 ½ block area

of Germantown. By May, 1976, the Gunckel Town Plan Historic District was approved by the Department of Interior for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

Later in 1976, the year of our nation's Bicentennial, Society Charter Members - Dan Anslinger, III, Carl Michael, and Carol Pasquel - were named Tri-Chairs of the local celebration. Working with Village Administrator Dan Anslinger, Jr. to meet the rigid national requirements, Germantown was the first village in Montgomery County to be honored as an official “Bicentennial Community” and authorized to use the national logo on all its promotional materials. During the celebration, the Society sponsored at least one event a month, January through December.

In 1979, and 1980, a committee was appointed by Mayor Ralph Moler, consisting of members representing the Chamber of Commerce

and the Historical Society, to initiate an ordinance spelling out the duties of an Architectural Review Board as it would administer the recently council-adopted Historic District Ordinance. The Ordinance was approved in July, 1980, updated in 1985, and repealed in 1995.

Again taking a leadership role in 1979, when Germantown celebrated its “Centseptuaquintennial” (175th Jubilee), the Society officially opened the week-long observance on Founders Day sponsoring “Music Under the Stars,” a concert by the Middletown Symphony Orchestra

on the front lawn of Emmanuel's Ev. Lutheran Church. Another Society first-time event was a very successful juried Art Show and Sale for Germantown area artists. The 3-day show was chaired by the president of the Society, Sheila Logan Tinch (Gorkis). Chairing the 8-day

During the 30 + years since its founding, the Society has sponsored a number of programs and projects. Among the many programs are

the annual holiday tour of homes, the festival of choirs, Founders Day, which has included a top-grade Antique Show, Garden Tours, Farm Tours, Craft Fairs, Art Sales and Exhibits, and Walking Tours. Special projects have included:

Commissioning the writing and publication of the book “The Village, a History of Germantown Ohio, 1804 - 1976” by Dr. Carl Becker in 1981.

In 1985, in cooperation with the Veterans Memorial Park Board, the old railway depot was moved from East Center Street to the Veterans Memorial Park, financed by the Society at a cost of $10,000.

In February 1990, the Society undertook the most challenging and time consuming project in its history. After a laborious process which consumed an entire year, the final product was a professionally produced video chronicle of the history of Germantown and German Township called “Reflections.” The viewer hears and sees the testimony provided by eleven knowledgeable citizens as they reveal a nostalgic image of our community life and heritage from the time of our first settlers to the present.

An ongoing project is the Suitcase Museum, which sends a suitcase filled with past area artifacts and pictures to our local schools for

A major cataloging program of inventoried items was initiated in 1993 with the assistance of an outside paid consultant. The original

program was completed on a card file program and now is completely computerized. The society currently has over 2,000 items in its

In 1999, a donation of $5,000. 00 from the Historical Society helped save the old tollhouse from demolition by relocating it to Veterans Memorial Park.

A part-time administrator was hired in 1994 to coordinate Society activities and to provide a quicker and better response to the

needs of the Society and its guests. In 2004, in part to expedite the cataloging of the voluminous amount of historic data generously donated to the Society from the estate of the late Dot Ettel (our illustrious “super” volunteer), a part-time Administrative Assistant was

added to the headquarters staff. The Carnegie Gift Shop was introduced in the East Room in 1994, and has been well received.

Also, in 2004, the Society's Board of Trustees voted to accept the Germantown Public Library's offer to deed the Carnegie Library

to the Society for continued use as a headquarters and museum, with the Society's assuming all the contingent costs of full ownership.

The Society had first moved into the Carnegie location in 1984, when the library generously offered the use of the vintage-1907 building under the very favorable terms of $1.00 per year. Prior to the Carnegie building, the Society had benefited from free lodging in the log house section of The Germantown Independent Telephone Company, and in two Center Street buildings owned by George E. and Penny Kuhn.

In the past years the Society has been in receipt of several generous bequests from friends and members, and in 2004, the Board of Trustees was both humbled and honored to receive a surprising bequest of $341,662.70 from the estate of the late Arthur D. Huffer, Jr. A friend of the Society, Mr. Huffer was a 1943 graduate of Germantown High School, a World War II veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and a respected member of the area's farming community.

Indeed a banner year for the Society, 2004 was also the Bicentennial anniversary of Germantown's founding. Largely through the efforts of yet another Charter Member, Paul Arnold (who with at least a half-dozen other Charter members had visited our sister city in Marktheidenfeld, Bavaria, Germany) joined forces with Village Manager Scott Pickup, and successfully lured Mayor Dr. Leonard Scherg

and his wife, Dr. Christine Scherg of Marktheidenfeld, to fly to Germantown to join in the festivities. The picturesque city sits on the banks

The Society's Board of Trustees contributed $5,000 to help fund the Bicentennial activities, including $1,250 to buy a plaque honoring

On display at the Society headquarters is the Bicentennial Quilt, the signature quilt containing the hundreds of names of Germantown area residents, past and present. Janet Wead was in charge of the hugely successful project. Also displayed at the headquarters is the First Place Plaque for the Society's parade entry, “Always Celebrating Our History.” Chairing the float committee were Dr. BL Berks, Rick Campbell and Dolores A. Grunwald.

Two more Charter Members - Dr. Noel Watson and Carol Peck - chaired the overall Bicentennial Commission, and honored as the parade marshals were Charter Members Frank N. (Hank) Dupps, Sr. and Dot Ettel.

During these past years, the Society has evolved from little more than a dream fueled by determination, and sparked by a handful of dedicated volunteers in a store-front existence, to a respected and influential community organization well established in a historic building that is a growing museum.

It is our hope that the members of the younger generation will step up to continue this process to ensure that the proud heritage of this community will be perpetuated and preserved.


	The Historical Society of Germantown \| History Society \| Germantown Society The Historical Society of Germantown During the summer of 1973, the four members of the Chamber of Commerce Historical Committee met to discuss the organization of a local historical society. Richard Kern, Dan Anslinger, Jr., D. Kent Southard, and Dolores A.. Grunwald were those responsible for laying the groundwork for the proposed Society. According to the Articles of Incorporation, granted October 18, 1973, The Historical Society of Germantown was founded with the purpose of “collecting, preserving, and interpreting historical materials, and dedicated to serving Germantown, German Township and the regions immediately surrounding and affecting them.” During the first week of that same month, a membership drive was begun. Several hundred formal invitations were mailed and a publicity campaign in the newspaper initiated. Membership in the fledging organization was open to any person, corporation, partnership or institution interested in promoting the purposes of the Society. Dr. Noel and Margaret Watson graciously offered the use of their recently purchased David Rohrer Mansion, A Montgomery County Landmark, for public tour to kick off the membership drive. Almost 1000 people toured the house, 90 of whom purchased Charter Memberships in the Society. At the close of the membership drive December 31, 1973, there were 290 Charter Memberships in the new Society. To further the cause of preservation, in 1975, the Preservation Committee of the Society, in cooperation with Loren Gannon, Preservationist of the Montgomery County Historical Society made application for a National Historic Preservation District encompassing an 8 ½ block area of Germantown. By May, 1976, the Gunckel Town Plan Historic District was approved by the Department of Interior for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Later in 1976, the year of our nation's Bicentennial, Society Charter Members - Dan Anslinger, III, Carl Michael, and Carol Pasquel - were named Tri-Chairs of the local celebration. Working with Village Administrator Dan Anslinger, Jr. to meet the rigid national requirements, Germantown was the first village in Montgomery County to be honored as an official “Bicentennial Community” and authorized to use the national logo on all its promotional materials. During the celebration, the Society sponsored at least one event a month, January through December. In 1979, and 1980, a committee was appointed by Mayor Ralph Moler, consisting of members representing the Chamber of Commerce and the Historical Society, to initiate an ordinance spelling out the duties of an Architectural Review Board as it would administer the recently council-adopted Historic District Ordinance. The Ordinance was approved in July, 1980, updated in 1985, and repealed in 1995. Again taking a leadership role in 1979, when Germantown celebrated its “Centseptuaquintennial” (175th Jubilee), the Society officially opened the week-long observance on Founders Day sponsoring “Music Under the Stars,” a concert by the Middletown Symphony Orchestra on the front lawn of Emmanuel's Ev. Lutheran Church. Another Society first-time event was a very successful juried Art Show and Sale for Germantown area artists. The 3-day show was chaired by the president of the Society, Sheila Logan Tinch (Gorkis). Chairing the 8-day Jubilee were Richard Oblinger and Carol Pasquel. During the 30 + years since its founding, the Society has sponsored a number of programs and projects. Among the many programs are the annual holiday tour of homes, the festival of choirs, Founders Day, which has included a top-grade Antique Show, Garden Tours, Farm Tours, Craft Fairs, Art Sales and Exhibits, and Walking Tours. Special projects have included: Commissioning the writing and publication of the book “The Village, a History of Germantown Ohio, 1804 - 1976” by Dr. Carl Becker in 1981. In 1985, in cooperation with the Veterans Memorial Park Board, the old railway depot was moved from East Center Street to the Veterans Memorial Park, financed by the Society at a cost of $10,000. In February 1990, the Society undertook the most challenging and time consuming project in its history. After a laborious process which consumed an entire year, the final product was a professionally produced video chronicle of the history of Germantown and German Township called “Reflections.” The viewer hears and sees the testimony provided by eleven knowledgeable citizens as they reveal a nostalgic image of our community life and heritage from the time of our first settlers to the present. An ongoing project is the Suitcase Museum, which sends a suitcase filled with past area artifacts and pictures to our local schools for children to experience. A major cataloging program of inventoried items was initiated in 1993 with the assistance of an outside paid consultant. The original program was completed on a card file program and now is completely computerized. The society currently has over 2,000 items in its inventory. In 1999, a donation of $5,000. 00 from the Historical Society helped save the old tollhouse from demolition by relocating it to Veterans Memorial Park. A part-time administrator was hired in 1994 to coordinate Society activities and to provide a quicker and better response to the needs of the Society and its guests. In 2004, in part to expedite the cataloging of the voluminous amount of historic data generously donated to the Society from the estate of the late Dot Ettel (our illustrious “super” volunteer), a part-time Administrative Assistant was added to the headquarters staff. The Carnegie Gift Shop was introduced in the East Room in 1994, and has been well received. Also, in 2004, the Society's Board of Trustees voted to accept the Germantown Public Library's offer to deed the Carnegie Library to the Society for continued use as a headquarters and museum, with the Society's assuming all the contingent costs of full ownership. The Society had first moved into the Carnegie location in 1984, when the library generously offered the use of the vintage-1907 building under the very favorable terms of $1.00 per year. Prior to the Carnegie building, the Society had benefited from free lodging in the log house section of The Germantown Independent Telephone Company, and in two Center Street buildings owned by George E. and Penny Kuhn. In the past years the Society has been in receipt of several generous bequests from friends and members, and in 2004, the Board of Trustees was both humbled and honored to receive a surprising bequest of $341,662.70 from the estate of the late Arthur D. Huffer, Jr. A friend of the Society, Mr. Huffer was a 1943 graduate of Germantown High School, a World War II veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and a respected member of the area's farming community. Indeed a banner year for the Society, 2004 was also the Bicentennial anniversary of Germantown's founding. Largely through the efforts of yet another Charter Member, Paul Arnold (who with at least a half-dozen other Charter members had visited our sister city in Marktheidenfeld, Bavaria, Germany) joined forces with Village Manager Scott Pickup, and successfully lured Mayor Dr. Leonard Scherg and his wife, Dr. Christine Scherg of Marktheidenfeld, to fly to Germantown to join in the festivities. The picturesque city sits on the banks of the Main River. The Society's Board of Trustees contributed $5,000 to help fund the Bicentennial activities, including $1,250 to buy a plaque honoring the 8 ½-block historic district, the design of which had been adopted in 1976, as the Society's official logo. On display at the Society headquarters is the Bicentennial Quilt, the signature quilt containing the hundreds of names of Germantown area residents, past and present. Janet Wead was in charge of the hugely successful project. Also displayed at the headquarters is the First Place Plaque for the Society's parade entry, “Always Celebrating Our History.” Chairing the float committee were Dr. BL Berks, Rick Campbell and Dolores A. Grunwald. Two more Charter Members - Dr. Noel Watson and Carol Peck - chaired the overall Bicentennial Commission, and honored as the parade marshals were Charter Members Frank N. (Hank) Dupps, Sr. and Dot Ettel. During these past years, the Society has evolved from little more than a dream fueled by determination, and sparked by a handful of dedicated volunteers in a store-front existence, to a respected and influential community organization well established in a historic building that is a growing museum. It is our hope that the members of the younger generation will step up to continue this process to ensure that the proud heritage of this community will be perpetuated and preserved. Revised: 2005