Swiss Community Historical Society

Swiss Community Historical Society Schumacher Homestead and Swiss Heritage Center, 8350 Bixel Road, Pandora, OH 45877 John) and Bluffton (First).

The Swiss settlement in the Bluffton/Pandora area included both Swiss Reformed who settled in the southern part of the area and Swiss Mennonites who settled in the northern part, mostly in Putnam County. The first Swiss Mennonites to settle here were Michael Neuenschwander and his family who migrated to northern Wayne County from the Swiss Jura in 1823 and then built a farm here in 1833 along pres

ent day Bixel Road, not far from the restored Schumacher Farm/Swiss Homestead. Numerous other Swiss Mennonites who moved here from the Wayne County settlement or directly from Switzerland and France soon joined the Neuenschwander family. The growing Swiss Mennonite congregation in this area eventually became focused around the present Ebenezer church, with additional meetinghouses in Pandora (St. A number of other Mennonite churches emerged in the area, either as divisions from the main Swiss congregation (Reformed, 1844; Zion, 1857; Grace, 1904) or as divisions from the divisions (Evangelical, 1884; Missionary, 1898). People who have lived in the historic house since the Schumachers:
Thomas Gray 1832-1836 Purchased land from the State of Ohio
Christian and Barbara Schumacher 1836-1858
Peter and Elizabeth Schumacher 1858-1888
Abraham and Magdalena Schumacher Bixel 1883-1903
Peter A. and Perses Amstutz 1903-1910
Gottlieb and Lena Schwab 1910-1921
Frank and Gertrude Kahle 1921-1947 During these years, Clarence Jones was a tenant for 13 years
Victor F. Maag 1947-1949 During this time, a Kaufman family were tenants
Othmar and Clara Smith 1949-1968
Swiss Community Historical Society 1968-present (The society bought the house and seven acres in 1968, and the barn, outbuildings, and about 4 acres in 2004 from members of the Smith family)

Save the date for Saturday, September 26, 2026! We are planning the best Fall Festival ever.
08/26/2026

Save the date for Saturday, September 26, 2026! We are planning the best Fall Festival ever.

A big "thank you" goes out to Dan Diller and son, Mike Diller who installed window blinds in our new Heritage Center. Mi...
08/25/2026

A big "thank you" goes out to Dan Diller and son, Mike Diller who installed window blinds in our new Heritage Center.

Mike Diller is the current owner of Diller's Flooring and Interiors in Bluffton, Ohio.

Tuesday, August 25, 2026 Stop by this afternoon or evening to find out more about renting the Swiss Heritage Center for ...
08/25/2026

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Stop by this afternoon or evening to find out more about renting the Swiss Heritage Center for your future events.

August 16, 2026Update on building the Swiss Heritage CenterMore finishing touches are being completed. The handicapped a...
08/16/2026

August 16, 2026
Update on building the Swiss Heritage Center

More finishing touches are being completed. The handicapped accessibility area in the parking lot now has lines.

Photos by Dan Diller

August 8, 2026Imagine a beautiful August day in the mid 1850's at the home of Christian and Barbara Luginbuhl Schumacher...
08/08/2026

August 8, 2026

Imagine a beautiful August day in the mid 1850's at the home of Christian and Barbara Luginbuhl Schumacher, who lived in the Swiss Settlement between Bluffton and Pandora, Ohio.

Some photos below (taken today) could have been taken then. Some photos show great progress.

Walking in the garden, watching docents demonstrate the work that may have been done in the summer kitchen and kitchen years before are timeless.

Visitors today learned a variety of food preparation methods. Visitors were able to taste food being "put by" for the winter. Others tried their hand at peeling apples, shredding cabbage and more. Displays were informative.

Visitors, some who descended from this household came from states across the nation. Some were here for the first time, others came back to experience the peace of the homestead again and again. Descending from a Swiss Settlement is not a prerequisite. All were and are welcome.

Standing on the porch looking to the right, things look so similar to the 1800's. Standing on the porch, looking to the left we see progress. We see the Swiss Heritage Center built to celebrate and remember what our ancestors persevered to build this community.

The busy parking lot filled with cars that brought families to visit and learn would amaze Christian and Barbara today!

Thank you to all of the early settlers and those who work tirelessly today. Thank you to all who visited.

Photos and update by Kaye Phillips

On Saturday, August 8, 1:00pm-4:00pm, we will be gathering at the SCHS Swiss Heritage Center and the Schumacher Homestea...
08/07/2026

On Saturday, August 8, 1:00pm-4:00pm, we will be gathering at the SCHS Swiss Heritage Center and the Schumacher Homestead at 8350 Bixel Road, Pandora, Ohio to learn more about the Homestead and preparing food for the months ahead.

Winter is coming, the garden is in full swing and the Schumachers have 16 people to feed through an Ohio winter. Most days from now on will be spent “putting food by” to survive the dark months. Drying, smoking, pickling, brining and even some “primitive” canning will be demonstrated at the Swiss Community Historical Society’s August Second Saturday. August 8 from 1:00-4:00 docents and volunteers will be asking you to help get ready for winter. You can maybe peel apples with a crank peeler, string “leather britches” (you’ll need to come Saturday to find out what that is), dry squash, check out herbs in the garden and more. Rumor is that there will be some tasting involved. Admission is $5.00, with members and children under 17 free. Check-in is in the lobby of the Heritage Center. The Schumacher Homestead is located at 8350 Bixel Road, Pandora, Ohio.

A display of early crocks and glass canning jars will be in the Heritage Center as well as a display of modern canning and preserving techniques from the Allen County Extension Office.

Copies of our new Fred Steiner book “Our Swiss Story” will be for sale at $30.00.

The Ohio Arts Council featured the SCHS in a nice article!
08/06/2026

The Ohio Arts Council featured the SCHS in a nice article!

Gary and Laura Luginbill of Pandora Grain recently donated grass seed for the grounds around the Heritage Center. We rea...
08/06/2026

Gary and Laura Luginbill of Pandora Grain recently donated grass seed for the grounds around the Heritage Center. We really appreciate their gift. Thank you, Gary and Laura!

(Photos by Nancy Yeager.)

Winter is coming, the garden is in full swing and the Schumachers have 16 people to feed through an Ohio winter. Most d...
07/30/2026

Winter is coming, the garden is in full swing and the Schumachers have 16 people to feed through an Ohio winter. Most days from now on will be spent “putting food by” to survive the dark months. Drying, smoking, pickling, brining and even some “primitive” canning will be demonstrated at the Swiss Community Historical Society’s August Second Saturday. August 8 from 1:00-4:00 docents and volunteers will be asking you to help get ready for winter. You can maybe peel apples with a crank peeler, string “leather britches” (you’ll need to come Saturday to find out what that is), dry squash, check out herbs in the garden and more. Rumor is that there will be some tasting involved. Admission is $5.00, with members and children under 17 free. Check-in is in the lobby of the Heritage Center. The Schumacher Homestead is located at 8350 Bixel Road, Pandora, Ohio.

A display of early crocks and glass canning jars will be in the Heritage Center as well as a display of modern canning and preserving techniques from the Allen County Extension Office.

Copies of our new Fred Steiner book “Our Swiss Story” will be for sale at $30.00.

07/29/2026

On August 26, 1880, The Bluffton News, reported that "A bicycle on our streets Sunday attracted some attention."*

The SCHS is putting together a new exhibit on bicycles in our settlement. We are reaching out to anyone who has photographs to share.

If possible, please place any bicycle photos in our comments. Thank you!

*from "Life in the Bluffton and Pandora, Ohio, Community, 1877-1910: Excerpts from The Bluffton News", compiled by Edgar L. Schumacher.

Address

8350 Bixel Road
Pandora, OH
45877

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