National, state historical associations honor Sauder Village

10/26/2010

ARCHBOLD - Sauder Village recently received state and national awards honoring its five-acre Pioneer Village, which opened about a year ago.

The American Association for State and Local History bestowed an Award of Merit from its Leadership in History Awards during its annual conference in Oklahoma City.

The association award is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history, according to a statement from Sauder Village.

Sauder Village also received the History Outreach Award from the Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums, presented during that organization's annual conference this month in Dublin, Ohio.

"It is such an honor to have our Pioneer Settlement addition recognized at both the state and national level," Kris Jemmott, the director of historic village operations, said.

"Even more encouraging are the wonderful comments we receive from our guests about this new addition," he said. "Our guests are very educated, entertained, and inspired as they hear stories about our ancestors building a community in the wilderness based on ingenuity, creativity, hard work, and perseverance."

Pioneer Village is a representation of life in northwest Ohio between 1834 and 1890, featuring such exhibits as the Lauber Hill Settlement, Log Schoolhouse, Witmer-Roth Home, and the Eicher Cabin.

Other historic buildings include the jail, Peter Stuckey Farm, Holdeman Church, and a new railroad station.

A rotating schedule of demonstrations includes farming with oxen, gardening, spinning, and rug hooking.

Sauder Village attendees may try their own abilities at hauling water with a neck yoke, harrowing the fields, gardening, and competing in spelldowns, among other activities.

All of Sauder Village is open through October. A Woodcarvers' Show and Sale is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $14.50 for adults, $7.50 for youths ages 6 to 16, and free for children 5 and under.

Youths 16 and under are admitted free on Sundays.

Holiday Lantern Tours are Nov. 27 and Dec. 3, 4, 10, and 11.