NEW KNOXVILLE — The New Knoxville Historical Society will reopen some of its doors for the June open house. On June 24 from 1 to 4 p.m., the doctor’s office, barn, log cabin and summer kitchen will be available for visitation. These four buildings will also be open the fourth Sundays in July and August.
The house, however, built in 1879, will continue to be closed until further notice as it undergoes some major renovations due to an equipment malfunction in the basement area.
Service Master from Waynesfield, coordinator of the project, will be handling the removal of all the contents that will be cleaned and put into storage until the interior is completed. Special archival contractors from Dayton and Columbus will be handling all the fabric, documents and photos remaining the building.
The entire structure will then receive painting, resealing all the hardwood floors and new utility upgrades. The last interior upgrades done were in spring of1988 for the dedication of the museum opening.
“Our projected forecast is to have it reopened sometime in September for our fall open house,” said curator Rusty Elsass.
The Heritage Center’s five buildings display life in early New Knoxville. The house was built by Dr. Gustav Zuelch, one of the village’s first doctors. Decades later it was the home of Dr. Henry Fledderjohann, his daughter Zella and her husband Ferd Eversman.
The house displays historical items of the schools, starting in the 1840’s, vintage clothing, military items, church and local history information and many pictures.
Visitors to the barn will find rural tools and equipment as well as local business memorabilia, pictures, signs and advertising handouts. Primitive items used by early settlers can be found in the log cabin. The summer kitchen displays items used for washing clothes, canning, baking and butchering as well as a room dedicated to the founders. The three-room doctor’s office, built by Dr. Fledderjohann, includes items used by early doctors, a clothing display and children’s items.
There is still plenty to see at the New Knoxville Historical Society. Watch for updates on the building’s progress on the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/newknoxvillehistoricalsociety.
