Gnadenhutten Day of Remembrance events to be held
Many arrowheads and tools the early village inhabitants would have used are displayed in the Gnadenhutten Museum.
Members of the Delaware Nation, some whose family members were victims of the massacre, will be in attendance at a two-day event to honor the memory of the 96 Christian Delaware Native Americans killed on March 8, 1782, by the Pennsylvania Militia.
An all-day silent vigil will be held Sunday, March 8 at the burial mound. Those attending should dress warmly and may bring lawn chairs. The Gnadenhutten Museum and buildings will be open from 9 a.m. through early afternoon.
A public observance will be held March 9 at the burial mound at 9 a.m. with an opening prayer, guest speakers from the Delaware Nation, the Indian Valley High School American history class, a dramatic reading by Trumpet in the Land actors, and museum and cabin tours.
At the 2019 event, Trumpet’s participation was so well received that word of the performance spread “tremendously” to others in the Delaware Nation via the Gnadenhutten Museum Facebook page.
“Last year was the first year Trumpet participated at the event, and it went over big,” John Heil said. “It’s nice. We are bringing history back to [the Delaware Nation] and keeping history alive here. It’s a good thing for us to do this, and we enjoy doing it.”
This will be the fifth year for the observance, and its significance is growing, as well as its attendance. Last year guest speaker and member of the Delaware Nation, Theresa Johnson of Moraviantown, Canada, played a recording of “Amazing Grace” sung in the native language at the event.
It was especially meaningful for Gerard Heath of Ann Arbor, Michigan, who also is a member of the Delaware Nation.
“Gerald was saying that it could have been the first time the language was heard on the grounds in 200 years,” Heil said.
Johnson will again speak at this year’s event, and her husband, Larry, also will take part in the program by playing native drums. Heath also will speak. Heath and Johnson first met at Gnadenhutten and learned they are cousins who both had family killed in the massacre.
Heil has been pleased with the participation of the Indian Valley students.
“The high school students were very attentive and had a lot of questions to ask. They realized that from the Native American point of view this is like a funeral. The kids understood it was a massacre where people were killed for no reason at all,” Heil said. “They took it to heart, they were sincere and they hung around. Theresa and Gerald were happy with the questions they asked and how they were accepted by the students.”
The museum and grounds operate on donations to stay open and run events. They also are seeking donations to restructure the grounds and make the area around the burial mound more private. “Cars won’t be parking in front of it,” Heil said.
Donations may be sent to Heil, 156 Spring St., Gnadenhutten, OH 44629. Make checks payable to the Gnadenhutten Museum.
Heil also is looking for volunteers to keep the museum open in the summer when the scheduled hours are Tuesday through Friday from 1-5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1-5 p.m. The museum is closed on Monday.
Museum admission is by donation. Two other events are held yearly. Pioneer Days is the first weekend of August, and Applebutter Days are the second weekend in October. Heil hopes to grow the Day of Remembrance event into one as well attended as the other two. The Day of Remembrance is open to the public.
“We want to keep alive the memory of the Delaware people that lived here so they are not forgotten,” Heil said.
The Gnadenhutten Museum is located at 352 S. Cherry St. in Gnadenhutten.