BLUFFTON, Ohio (WLIO) -Â Members of the Swiss Community Historical Society celebrated their heritage in Bluffton and Pandora with their annual "Swiss Day."
The event included a potluck, with attendants all bringing their own dishes, as well as the group's annual business meeting and an election of new officers. The society says that when Swiss settlers came to the area, they founded an area between Pandora and Bluffton known as "The Settlement" with rich soil for farming.
Swiss Day was held in the rebuilt 1800s barn that they made into their new heritage center. The site is designed to give an insight into the lives of those settlers in the 1850s.
"The building itself is a reconstructed and restored 1870s barn that came from about 6 to 8 miles away from here, and then was totally rebuilt here with the intent of creating a museum and a community space," said Gary Wetherill, former president of the SCHS.
The event also included the debut of Our Swiss History, an expanded version of P. B. Amstutz's original work from 1925, now co-authored by society member Fred Steiner. Steiner said he wanted to include the history of settlers associated with the Swiss Reformed Church.
"We're kind of a niche community. There are a lot of German communities around us and a lot of Catholic communities. Our uniqueness is Swiss. That's where our many of our ancestors came from. And their story is a bit different than the other German and and other groups. It's a more unique thing," said Steiner.
Those wanting to learn more about the community and their history can visit Swiss Community Historical Society website.
