Museum offers glimpse into past

Pictured above are The Serendipity Singers Serendipity Nursery School created for the New Bremen Historic Association's annual Christmas Tree Celebration in December.

First off, this column is one I've had in the works since December — some personal things happened in my life this winter, so those saw the majority of my time — and I would like to thank Delores Stienecker, Dennis Dicke, Gen Conradi and the rest of the New Bremen Historic Association for their patience with me in finally getting this out.
I first visited the New Bremen Historical Museum about a month or so after I moved to this area — my father was in town, and we happened to be driving around New Bremen and stumbled upon the building, which happened to be open.
In addition to the wide variety of items that are written or include language in German, the item that stood out the most to me was the one in which women would use to curl their hair — if you happen to stop by, check that one out — it just looks like a torture device that I would not want anywhere near my hair.
Since that first visit to the museum, I have been back a few times — usually writing about the Christmas Open House the museum holds for two weekends in December.
At the most recent open house, members of the New Bremen Historic Association took time to tell me about their museum.
"This is one of the oldest houses in New Bremen," said Stienecker, a curator with the association.
The building the New Bremen Historical Museum, which sits at 120 N. Main St. across from the post office, was erected in 1837. After being built by Gerhard Heinrich Hehemann, the building passed through the Portune, Luelleman and Scheer families.
"We set it up as a house," Stienecker said, noting one of the families that held the house the longest. "The Luelleman family used to live here. They handed it down from generation to generation."
In the fall of 1973, a group of people, through pledges from businesses and individuals, purchased the building — forming the New Bremen Historic Association.
The white building hosts 12 rooms and is two-and-a-half stories. It was restored to its original "look" by the founders of the historic association and other volunteers, with many fundraisers held in the early days to fund the restoration. The museum was completely paid for and dedicated on July 4, 1976.
Today, the museum boasts items from local merchants — such as furniture from the Auglaize Furniture Company and the Klanke Furniture Company.
"The bedroom suite is by the Heinfeldt Furniture Company," Stienecker said.
The museum also notes New Bremen's racing history, with pictures from the New Bremen Speedway dotting the halls.
"We also have a woman's clothing from Germany," Stienecker said. "They are original — about 100 years old — an original outfit."
Some of the museum's newest pieces include a loveseat that came up on the Miami and Erie Canal and a doctor's satchel.
"Most of the items donated are local, but some come from out of state," Dicke said. "They all have something to do with New Bremen."
In addition to boasting a membership of approximately 900 people, the New Bremen Historic Association also sends out a newsletter called The Towpath four times a year, hosts the Christmas Open Houses two weekends in December and most recently — Monday, March 14 — held its annual dinner with Cincinnati Rev. James Egbert, who spoke about the German Influence in America at St. Paul's Church.
The New Bremen Historical Museum offers a free experience from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays in June, July and August. In addition to the main house, there is a summer kitchen on the property that holds a collection of old-time laundry equipment and a barn that holds ice-cutting equipment and other old tools and equipment. For more information for to schedule an appointment, the historic association can be found online at www.newbremenhistory.org.



If you go:
The New Bremen Historical Museum
2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays in June, July and August
Or by appointment.
www.newbremenhistory.org