Did you know the Swiss Community Historical Society has a variety of videos on YouTube?
In this video, docent Nancy Yeager provides information on the kitchen in the Schumacher farmhouse.
Author: BlufftonPandoraSCHS
Berky Hall stone repurposed as Heritage Center steps
Six limestone capstones–36 inches by 6 feet long and weighing 1,509-1,700 pounds each–were salvaged from Bluffton University’s Berky Hall for use as steps at the new Swiss Community Historical Society Heritage Center. The stone was adapted by John Kohli, mason, with assistance by Jeff Althaus, Wes Buettner, Mike Krugh, Cory Wilkins, and Seth Bixel.
Our Swiss Story with Fred Steiner
2:00 p.m. on April 19 at Schumacher Homestead
- Join The Swiss Community Historical Society for a sneak peek at the updated P.B. Amstutz book Historical Events of the Mennonite Settlement in Allen and Putnam Counties, Ohio, written in 1925.
Bluffton historian Fred Steiner will give an update on an expanded version, Our Swiss Story, to be published in late spring 2026. Steiner has been researching the non-Mennonite families of The Settlement known as the Swiss Reformed. Several families will be featured, plus more stories from the period.
The program will be on Sunday, April 19, at 2:00 p.m. at the Schumacher Homestead Historical Center at 8350 Bixel Road, Bluffton.
Homemade pies and hot beverages will be available. Two nut pies (hickory and walnut) made from Dr. Ollie Lugibihl’s famous recipe will be offered for silent auction to support the society.
The event will be livestreamed at https://fmcbluffton.org/first-mennonite-live-stream/ and subsequently available on the Swiss Historical YouTube channel.
Four new acquisitions: An ice box, a pump organ, a winnower, and a wooden dust pan with broom.
Photos by Seth Bixel
The first photo (above) pictures an icebox dated back to around 1910. The icebox was the predecessor of the refrigerator. Featuring two compartments, the upper box was used for a large block of ice. Cool air from the ice circulated down to the second compartment to keep food cool.
The second photo shows an extraordinary working pump organ. Dated to around 1900, the organ is ornate and in beautiful condition. Organs such as this were most popular in homes and small churches from 1850-1930.
Next is our SCHS President, Gary Wetherwill holding a winnower. A winnower is a machine used to separate grain from chaff. A winnower cleans grain by shaking or tossing the mixture into the wind. The actual process is called winnowing. This winnower dates back to the 1880’s.
Lastly, we have a unique wooden dust pan with a broom. The dust pan is dated around 1880.
Update by Seth Bixel and Kaye Phillips on Facebook
Swiss Community Historical Society hires first Museum Director
MEDIA RELEASE—The Swiss Community Historical Society of Bluffton and Pandora is pleased to announce it has hired Neil Allen, a native of Ada, as its first-ever Museum Director. Gary Wetherill, president of the SCHS, stated, ”On behalf of the Swiss Community Historical Society, I’d like to welcome Neil Allen as our director of the Swiss Heritage Center. We look forward to working together with him as we enter a new era for the Society. His expertise and professionalism are already apparent in the first exhibits he has developed for the Society.”
He brings a wealth of experience to the position and has worked throughout Ohio as well as in Indiana, Wisconsin and Texas. For many years, Allen was the Executive Director at the Maritime Museum of Sandusky in Sandusky, Ohio. There, he handled the daily operation of the museum, constructed exhibits, and developed educational programs and special events. Allen’s work also included grant writing, fundraising and supervising volunteers.
Allen has begun to plan and install exhibits in the nearly completed Swiss Heritage Center, as he sorts through many artifacts currently in storage. As museum director, he will supervise all displays currently on view at the Schumacher Homestead. He recently commented, “I’m looking forward to working with the Swiss Community Historical Society board members and volunteers to develop innovative exhibits and expand our educational programs.”
SWISS COMMUNITY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 