The Swiss Community Historical Society (SCHS) will hold an open house on Saturday June 4, from 1:00-5:00 p.m. at the Schumacher Homestead. There will be children’s games—for the young and the young-at-heart. Highlights will include stilts, game of graces and hoop rolling.

The Homestead is near Bluffton and Pandora at 8350 Bixel Road.

Visitors may tour the mid-nineteenth century farmhouse, summer kitchen, garden, workshop and barn.

Docents will be on hand with stories about the early residents of the house and information about the various artifacts on display, some of which are original to the Homestead.

This open house is the first of three scheduled for this summer. On July 2 there will be hands-on steel-nib pen writing; on August 6 visitors will learn all about drying herbs.

Can’t make it on those days? “In addition to the open house days, we invite visitors to schedule a tour of the Homestead this summer and into the fall,” says Susie Gratz, tour coordinator.

Tours of any size may schedule from Monday-Saturday, 9-5 pm, and Sunday 1-5 by calling Gratz at 419-358-4822 and leaving a message, or by emailing her at [email protected].

Learn more about the Schumacher Homestead and Swiss Community Historical Society at www.SwissHistorical.org and on Facebook.

Docents, L-R from top: Nancy Yeager, Rachel Friesen, Ed Yeager, Sallie Jordan-Jones, Jan Emmert; bottom: Gary Wetherill, Susie Gratz, Pat Sheidler.