Admission is $5, free for members and anyone under age 17

MEDIA RELEASE__The Swiss Community Historical Society of Bluffton and Pandora will host its third and final Second Saturday event of 2025 at the Schumacher Homestead, 8350 Bixel Rd, on Saturday, August 9, from 1-4:00 p.m.

The featured activity will be Van Risser demonstrating and sharing some examples of hearth cooking in the summer kitchen.

During the early years, Swiss Settlement cooks used a back fire and pulled hot coals forward under a cast iron pot. They learned to control their fire and plan what kind of heat was needed for different tasks—roasting, boiling, frying, stewing, heating water for washing, etc. A steady supply of firewood was essential and was probably logged, cut up, and carried into the house by the men and boys.

The public is invited to attend this event. Period-costumed docents will be on hand in the air-conditioned house, as well as the garden, workshop, and nearly completed Heritage Center.

Private tours may be arranged for Mondays-Saturdays by contacting Susie Gratz at [email protected] or calling 419-358-4822 and leaving a message.