Just about halfway between Berlin and Sugarcreek lies the village of Walnut Creek (eastern Holmes County, in Walnut Creek Township). Settled in the early nineteenth century, the area was once home to many small coal mines. Today it is a bustling village dominated by tourism-based businesses. The Der Dutchman Restaurant serves up hearty local fare, and the Inn at Walnut Creek, Carlisle Village Inn and several nearby BB's provide rest for the weary traveller. Numerous gift shops, a cheese shop,a large antique mall and a family-operated chocolate factory draw many visitors.

But if you really want a taste of the local heritage, pay a visit to the German Culture Museum on Olde Pump Street (look for the robin's-egg-blue house).

The museum features an impressive collection of area memorabilia, including a 14 by 20 portrait of the man thought to be Holmes County's first Amish settler, Jonas Stutzman. In the early days of what was to become Holmes County, he must have been thought of as quite a character! After arriving in 1809, he built the first sawmill and taught school as more and more people began to settle in the area.

In Stutzman's later years, however, he became a bit eccentric, dressing in all white clothing and predicting the imminent return of Christ. He even built an oversized chair which he carried around with him, in case the Lord arrived suddenly. (This chair is on display at The Mennonite Information Center outside Berlin, but the German Culture Museum displays another chair handmade by Stutzman.) His unusual garb earned him the nickname Der Weiss, or The White.

Other highlights of the museum include a room of antique tools, as well as several items throughout the house pertaining to the Anabaptist movement. The Tuferversteck is a working miniature replica of a 450-year-old hiding place used by Anabaptists in a Switzerland barn. Also on display are a very old Martin Luther Bible and the German family bible of a local family. On a recent visit, a tour guide explained the history of the centuries-old Ausbund, the hymnbook still in use by the Amish today. Early Anabaptists wrote the text to many of the songs while imprisoned in the 1530s. Later, more songs were added, but the hymnal has been virtually unchanged for more than three centuries.

Even the building housing the museum is an interesting piece of history. Originally built sometime between 1840 and 1860, the house was a private residence when, in 1895, it hosted an important guest. William McKinley, at that time a presidential candidate, came through Walnut Creek and spent the night in the little wooden house. The next morning, he made a campaign speech off the front porch. According to local lore, after taking a meal with the family of William Kaser, owners of the house, McKinley asked Mrs. Kaser for a second piece of pie. He must have needed the extra energy to run a successful campaign, because the following year he was elected the 25th President of the United States.

The German Culture Museum is open Thursday through Saturday from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. (from June through the end of October). If you find yourself in the village of Walnut Creek, take time to stop in and experience a bit of the area's rich heritage. And if you do, request a guided tour; you'll receive many additional anecdotes from knowledgeable volunteers. For more information about the museum, call (330) 893-2510 or (330) 852-4494.(Oct. 2002 Edition)