New Bremen Historic Association

The groundbreaking for the reconstruction of the Lockkeeper’s House in New Bremen was held on Monday August 3, 2009 at 10:00 A.M. at the site of the original lockkeeper’s house on Lock One North of the Miami and Erie Canal in the heart of New Bremen. The new building will serve as a visitor’s center, interpretative museum and offices for the Miami and Erie Canal Corridor Association (MECCA) and Southwest Auglaize Chamber of Commerce as well as meeting rooms.

Many officials of the village and organizations were present for the ceremony as well as a crowd of interested citizens. Wanda Dammeyer displayed her completed model of a young boy leading a mule on the towpath.

The construction costs of the Lockkeeper’s House are being covered by a Transportation Enhancement Grant awarded by the Ohio Department of Transportation. The New Bremen Historic Association raised money for the local match of funds. The NBHA will design exhibits within the new building to tell the story of the Miami and Erie Canal and New Bremen. Construction is expected to be completed by spring of 2010.

uuuuu

Lockkeeper’s House Fund Raiser #2

One thousand keys have been made, one of which will open the door to the new Lockkeeper’s House when it is completed. These keys are still being sold for $20.00 each, with the “lucky” key holder being the winner of $1,000 cash as well as various gift certificates from local merchants. True Value Hardware furnished all keys, including the one that will open the Lockkeeper’s House. The first key was sold Tuesday, January 13th, to Mayor Jeff Pape at the Village Council meeting. Anyone who wished could come to the open council meeting and purchase a key for themselves that night. Keys are available at the Chamber of Commerce office or by contacting Delores Stienecker at 419-629-2685. The drawing will be held when the Lockkeeper’s House is dedicated.

Our old flag is now here

Rally Once Again

Rededication of Civil War Flag

from

Company C of the Thirty-Seventh

Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment

10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 22, 2009

at Lock One of the

The Miami & Erie Canal

New Bremen, Ohio

The Civil War Flag given to the members of Company C of the 37th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment by the citizens of New Bremen was carried through the war and returned by William Schulenberg at the end of the Civil War. The flag passed through three generations of the Schulenberg family and to Ray Knipple in 1959 for safe-keeping. In 1975, Mr. Knipple donated the flag to the New Bremen Historic Association. The flag has been restored and is on display for all to see at the Bicycle Museum of America.

On Saturday, August 22, 2009 at 10:00 AM, a large crowd gathered to rededicate the flag. The American Legion Post 241 Color Guard was present as well as two men (John Hoffman and Wayne Maurer) dressed as Civil War soldiers. Mayor Jeff Pape addressed the group and said, “This is a lasting impression of what sacrifices were made by those men in the name of freedom.” Author Mark Bernstein talked about his research in the book “Company C: New Bremen and the Civil War.” The AC Swing Band played “Rally Round the Flag”, a very popular song during that time period. Rev. Becky Erb Strang, minister of St. Paul United Church of Christ, delivered a prayer.

Everyone then entered the Bicycle Museum of America to view the flag where it will be permanently on display. All were surprised to see how large the flag is. It measures 6’6” by 13’8” and was carried in the battles. The specialists who restored the flag (the Textile Conservation Laboratory at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City) said they could still smell the gunpowder when they took the flag out of its case. This is truly a piece of our national history and the role that New Bremen played. Be sure to take your family to see the flag. [Gen Conradi]

uuuuu

The Past is our Future

Lockkeeper’s House Fund Raiser #1

In the early days of the Miami and Erie Canal in New Bremen, what was later referred to as “the Thompson House” was the lockkeeper’s house and New Bremen’s major overnight lodging establishment. It was the job of the lockkeeper to keep canal boat traffic moving through the lock. Boats coming from the north would be pulled into Lock One and raised to the summit level to travel across the Continental Divide and then to continue south on their way to the Ohio River. Boats coming off the summit level would be locked through Lock One and then would continue another 123 miles on their descent to Lake Erie.

The lockkeeper was responsible for tending the lock on the canal day and night and so a house close to the lock was necessary. The original lockkeeper’s house stood on the west bank of lock one until April 1968 when it was destroyed in a practice session for the New Bremen and other area Fire Departments. The foundation of the house was uncovered during the renovation of Lock One in 2006. The house was referred to as “The Thompson House” because Mr. Thomas B. Thompson was the lockkeeper for many years.

02-Lockkeeper's House Sketch The Village of New Bremen, MECCA, Chamber of Commerce and the New Bremen Historic Association are combining efforts to reconstruct a Lockkeeper’s House on the same site as the old one. The new building will measure approximately 26’ x 48’ and will be used as a Visitors’ Center. A museum will house and display historical artifacts of the Miami & Erie Canal and will tell the story of the canal and the important role it played in the development of New Bremen. The Chamber of Commerce office will be housed on the first floor. The MECCA Director’s office and a meeting room will be located on the second floor. All floors will be accessible by elevator, including the basement.

The New Bremen Village Council filed for a grant for the project and a Transportation Enhancement Grant was obtained for $522,300. To meet the grant requirements, we must provide 20% matching funds. Our share is $130,000-$135,000. All donations towards this project at any level of giving will be appreciated. If this amount is raised, construction can begin by July 1, 2009. Occupancy would be anticipated by early 2010.

Your gift is tax deductible because the N.B. Historic Assoc. is a 501(c)3 organization. Suggested donation levels are:

Partners in Building - $100.00

Cornerstone Club - $1000.00

[At the $1000 level your name will be placed on

a bronze plaque and you will be included in the

Grand Opening Celebration.]

Memorials are also accepted.

wwwww

Please send your contributions to:

New Bremen Historic Association

P.O. Box 73

New Bremen, OH 45869-0073

Grand Opening people-2

Standing: Larry Dicke, President of NBHA; Delores Stienecker, NB Village Council & Curator for NBHA Museum; Wayne York, Village Administrator; Brad Garmann, Garmann/Miller & Associates (Principal Architect); John Rausch, Garmann/Miller & Associates (Project Manager); Ben Baumer, Baumer Construction (General Contractor); Todd Weigandt, Area Energy & Electric (Mechanical Contractor); Mayor Jeff Pape.

Kneeling: Neal Brady, MECCA; Jim Coon, Chamber of Commerce Director.