By Patricia M. Albrecht
Zoar Village was founded in 1817 by a group of 200 German separatists seeking escape from religious persecution in their homeland. Today, nearly 200 years later, the village continues to preserve its history through restorations and reenactments, educating the community and future generations in Ohio and American history.
The Zoar Harvest Festival, commemorating a yearly separatist event of bringing in the last load of summer wheat, is one of the three main events in the village. On August 1 and 2, Zoar celebrated its 36th year of the festival with the popular antique show and sale, Civil War encampment, horse drawn wagon rides, entertainment, steam and power display, art show, bike race, sheepdog demonstration, crafters, and several original buildings open to the public to view costumed interpreters surrounded by items made or used by the separatists.
“We have about 5,000 to 7,000 people come out to the festival,” said Richard Lebold, chairperson of the Zoar Community Association. “This is the 36th year, but before it was the Harvest Festival, it ran as the Separatist Festival for at least seven years, and before that, it was the Zoar Homecoming. The whole purpose of the Harvest Festival is to raise funds for the restoration and preservation of Zoar, whether it be for maintenance, flowers, paint, etc. A portion of the proceeds at the end of the year are earmarked for an endowment fund.”
The Ohio Historical Society also works in conjunction with the Zoar Community Association. Vicki Space, the OHS site director, enjoys history and being involved in the festivals.
“I like the unique history of Zoar,” said Space. “It was the first communal society in Ohio, lasting from 1817 to 1893, longer than any other communal society in the state. It’s amazing to think how long these buildings have stood here. People who visit the festival really enjoy walking through the garden and visiting the dairy, bakery, greenhouse, blacksmith shop, and tin shop.”
Bruce Barth, a Zoar staff member for 12 years, works in the tin shop. “Items made here would include things like cups, teapots, and wash basins. We would make the iron here in Zoar, but the tin sheets would come from Pennsylvania. The apprentice would make the tin items, but only the master tinsmith would actually make the patterns. That was the major difference between the apprentice and the master tinsmith.”
Local residents come for the festival, but there are many people that travel several miles to attend. Jerry and Mary Hawkins have come to the Zoar Harvest Festival many times. “We are from Findlay,” said Mary Hawkins. “I like to walk through the village and listen to the music. I also like to go through the buildings. My husband always comes for the antique show.”
The Zoar Harvest Festival is well-known in the antique world as one of the best shows in the Midwest. The dealers come from the East Coast to the Midwest by invitation only. Visitors to the festival enter a 60-by-240 foot tent packed with high end antiques.
A group of 11 seniors from Shaker Heights in Cleveland bicycled to the festival.
“We biked to Millersburg,” said Beverly Sload, “and then on to Fredericksburg. We spent the night at the Inn at Honey Run and drove to Zoar this morning. This is our first year here. The antique show is beautiful and has very high quality items. We have enjoyed this beautiful town, and the men have really enjoyed all the food.”
Saturday’s sunshine brought car after car to the festival, and although rain threatened to deter the crowd on Sunday, the weather cleared up, allowing more visitors to enjoy the festival.
In addition to the Zoar Harvest Festival, two more events are taking place in the village before the end of the year.
On Sept. 19 and 20, Ohio’s largest Civil War event will take place. Zoar invites visitors to be a part of history as over 1,000 Civil War soldiers and civilians invade the historic village.
There will be artillery and cavalry demonstrations, a period Civil War wedding, a Saturday evening ball, sutlers and shops, a night battle and artillery fire.
Then, on Dec. 5 and 6, it’s Christmas in Zoar with crafts, folk art, carolers, food, and museums as well as a tree lighting ceremony.
History helps us to understand change, our heritage, and different people and societies. Zoar Village is our community’s link to the wealth of knowledge of the past.
