Osnaburg Historical Society

Osnaburg Historical Society
131 Nassau St. E
East Canton, OH 44730
osnaburghistoricalsociety@gmail.com

Osnaburg Historical Society Meetings
Second Monday of the Month
6:00pm. – 7:30pm.

Officers:

  • President – Kay Upole
  • Vice President – Heidi Freshour
  • Treasurer – Laurie Soliday
  • Secretary – Virginia Shearer

Trustees:

  • 1 Year Remaining – Lon Hudak
  • 2 Years Remaining – Ray Riggs
  • 3 Years Remaining – Karen Nieschwitz

History of the Osnaburg Historical Society

  • In 1976, along with communities across the United States, residents of the village of East Canton and Osnaburg township, organized a celebration of the 200th birthday of America. Many events took place across the township that year and a local history, “A History of Osnaburg Township 1804-1976” was compiled and published. Several individuals involved in the Bicentennial celebration and the publication of the township history decided the time was right for the township and the village to form a historical organization. A group was organized in August of 1977 with sixty members. The Osnaburg Historical Society was officially incorporated on January 11, 1978.
  • The Society was formed to promote historical work within the borders of Osnaburg Township and to collect, preserve and publish historical material.
  • Initially the Society met in the homes of members and in local churches. In June of 1978 the congregation of the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mapleton offered their church and all furnishings in the building to the Osnaburg Historical Society. The congregation, which had diminished in size, asked that the society preserve the church in a manner that would not detract from its original purpose.
  • After acquiring the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church building, the Osnaburg Historical Society established a museum in the facility. The museum collection in the old church includes many items from the village of Mapleton including furniture, photographs, glassware and books. Most of the items in the collection have been donated by community residents. Over the years the building has been used to conduct community tributes to residents, hosted visits with Santa, hosted a wedding and been used for ice cream socials. Since 2020 the building has been the site of a Wreaths Across America program in mid-December. The historical society has partnered with the Lowell D. Oberly American Legion Post 667 to locate the graves of veterans in five township cemeteries that then receive balsam wreaths to honor the veterans.
  • In 1986 the Osnaburg Historical Society had the opportunity to purchase a beautiful brick home in the village of East Canton. Built in1834, the home was originally known as Werner Inn and was named for its builder. It later was called Reed Tavern, when it was sold to Henry Werner’s daughter and son-in-law. The building is an excellent example of Federal architecture. The home was purchased from the fourth generation of the Werner family who was living in the home. The building did not have many modifications in its lifetime; however, restoration work was necessary to repair the roof, replace windows and repair termite damage. In addition, cosmetic work made the building shine.
  • The township history book written and published in 1976 has been reprinted twice. The Historical Society is currently working to update the history and include information from the township and village from 1976 to the present.
  • Since 2022 Werner Inn has been featured as part of Light Up EC, the village’s annual tree lighting ceremony in December. The Historical Society leads tours of the building and provides cookies for the event. More than 150 people attended the 2023 Light Up EC.