How many of you really know about the founding of Arcanum? Or the AWTHS building-what it was before our organization purchased and restored it? If you aren’t familiar, please join us during our January 6, 2024 Open Hours on Saturday morning, as AWTHS will conduct building tours at 10am and 11am. RSVP’S are encouraged but not required through Messenger or email: [email protected].
Those wishing to drop off acquisitions or learn about volunteering as hosts, are asked to please arrive between 9-9:15am so we can prepare for later tours.
What year was Arcanum founded? And by whom? We will discuss in our tour time. For those who can’t attend, we encourage you to purchase the “Secret Town” book by William Gunder. Inside are some answers as well as information about the early settlers in the village and the Gunder family. AWTHS posted earlier blogs about the Gunder family. Those are available by searching and reading.
Location of first Gunder residence before founding of Arcanum
If you visit you will see the plaque on the porch which list the date the AWTHS building was built by Lewis Deitrich. It was first a saloon and hotel. In the “Arcanum Businesses” book, which we have for purchase, it list all the businesses which were inside the building up through 1968. This was written by Anita Short and is a valuable addition to your reading library especially history buffs and for doing research. The AWTHS purchased the building from the Wayne Trail Grange and the historical society began their restoration work. Much of the work was done by volunteers and services and furnishings were also donated to help with expenses.
If you haven’t visited us we encourage you to do so. Our house or building is open the First Saturday of each month (except April is during alumni date) from 9am-noon. Other times the research library is open by special appointment and the same for house tours. We offer programs the month of March, May, September and November. Follow our AWTHS web site for details, awths.org as well as our AWTHS FB page for events. We include blogs on different topics and FB post about Southern Darke County history and have videos to watch and newsletters to keep you busy and informed about the village history.
Other events our historical society sponsors are the spring trash county clean up, help with fair gate at the Darke County Fair and our annual Christmas Bazaar fundraiser. Summer includes the location for the Farmers Market and sometimes special events such as historic walks or cemetery programs.
We are funded through memberships as well and encourage your membership as well as volunteer help. There are many areas to contribute to including program refreshments, house clean up, including yard work, program ideas, research library, hosting, assisting chairs and helping with our events such as the fair gate and bazaar.
If you would like to volunteer, contact us AWTHS at [email protected]. If you would like to host, please join us on open hours to learn what’s involved and for training. Our full list of contact people is on our web site under “contacts”. https://awths.org/about/contacts/. Other information is there including hours, how to donate acquisitions, publications, membership forms, as well as videos, newsletters, and brochure links. Lots of good information to check out to be informed.
The facility is available for rentals thorough Carolyn Furlong or Sharon Troutwine. And vendors are needed for the summer Farmers Market.
Please abide for AWTHS blog guidelines. Photos are a part of AWTHS archives and if shared, credit is to be given to AWTHS.