AV 5 Zoar, Ohio / Florence Kathrein Collection

              AV 5
Zoar, Ohio/ Florence Kathrein Collection
Page 1
OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Audiovisual Collections
AV 5
Zoar, Ohio/ Florence Kathrein Collection
( ca 1915- 1970)
OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION
Number:
AV 5
Title:
Zoar, Ohio/ Mavis Kathrein Collection
Creator:
Mavis Kathrein, transferred from Museum
Dates:
Ca 1915- 1970 [ bulk 1915- 1920]
Media:
Photographic prints ( 18 printed on postcards)
Quantity:
38 items, 0.04cf
Location:
Ohio Historical Center, AV Cage 3/ 7/ 3/ B
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE COLLECTION
The Society of Separatists of Zoar arrived in the United States in 1817 after fleeing their homeland of Wηrttemberg, Germany in search of religious freedom. On August 14, 1817 they landed in Philadelphia where they were befriended by the Quakers and bought the 5,500- acre tract of land on the east bank of the Tuscarawas River that would soon be the Zoar settlement. In the fall of 1817 the Separatist leader, Joseph Bäumeler ( later changed to Bimeler), and some other members left for to prepare their new home. On December 1, 1817, the first home was completed. The Separatists wanted to create a self- sufficient community where they would be able to worship freely, but an economic system had to be established. Johannes Breymaier advocated a form of communism that was accepted by most of the member. Both male and female members of the community signed the Articles of Association, which created the Society of Separatists of Zoar, on April 15, 1819. The Articles were revised in 1824 and in 1833 a constitution was announced. It stated the government of the society would be a board of three trustees, a standing committee of five, an agent general, and a cashier. The Society was contracted to dig seven miles of the Ohio- Erie Canal, which passed through their land. Their work was completed in 1828 for $ 21,000 and allowed the Society to pay off its land debt. The canal essentially opened the area for commerce and at one time, the Society operated as many as four canal boats. Zoar was almost totally self sufficient, and excesses were sold to outsiders.
In 1884 Zoar was incorporated as a village with an elected municipal administration. The society administration continued to function and those officers were usually the same as the village. The society started to wane in productivity after Bimeler's death in 1853 and dissent arose toward the end of the 19th century. Part of the problem was that nonmembers were being hired to work in the fields and in various industries, and older members felt their presence had an adverse affect on the young Separatists. On March