Otterbein Homes Makes Major History Donation

The Shakers attempt to attract new converts to Union Village called Marble Hall, still stand today.

Just 100 years ago this month, the Shakers of Union Village sold all 4000 plus acres  comprising their village and farms to the United Brethren Church. The land was prime real estate in western Turtlecreek Township and the Shakers could have sold it to developers for over a $1 million dollars.  But they were reluctant to let their great experiment in building paradise on earth become just another commercial venture. Happily, a few trustees of the United Brethren Church took a chance on Union Village,  and the Shakers agreed to sell them their beloved home  for a little over $300,000.  You see, the money was not important to them. Their home had nurtured and sheltered children and the elderly and all kinds of people in need for over a hundred years.  The United Brethren Church would use the village and its surrounding acres, in much the same way, providing a safe haven for orphans, old folks and other people in need. That vision was full filled and today Otterbein Home is a world class organization serving thousands of people over the last 100 years.

When the handful of elderly Shaker sisters and brothers packed their few personal belongings and moved east to one of the surviving Shaker villages, there were over 100 buildings standing at Union Village, vacant and furnished with Shaker furniture and belonging. For the next several years Otterbein held big sales of the items and in the late 1920's Bob & Ginny Jones, a young couple just starting out to learn the business of inn keeping at their hotel known as the Golden Lamb, enjoyed purchasing the furniture and household items to furnish their property.  They admired the Shaker's beautiful simple designs and high quality craftsmanship. Pretty soon they were traveling to other Shaker villages to purchase pieces for their growing collection. They loved collecting Shaker and began purchasing pieces to donate to the Warren County Historical Society's museums.

At the same time Otterbein Homes officials also recognized the beauty of Shaker craftsmanship and began to display some of the Shaker made items in their residence homes.  When the Warren County Historical Society began collecting furniture for its museums in the early 1940's, Otterbein loaned pieces for display in the museum.

As the Warren County Historical Society's properties grew, Otterbein loaned more and more items to the Historical Society for display.  When WCHS built a special addition on to Harmon Hall to house their growing Shaker collection, Otterbein loaned some large significant pieces of furniture that became some of the most beloved pieces in the museum's collection.

Yesterday, November 20, 2012, in a small but significant ceremony held in the Shaker Gallery of the Warren County History Center, Otterbein Homes officially donated the loaned items to the History Center.  Senator Rob Portman, author of the most definitive work on the Union Village Shakers which they called Wisdom's Paraidse, was the keynote speaker. The vision of the Shakers has come full circle and Bob & Ginny Jones, Rob Portman's maternal grandparents, were smiling down on us, I'm sure. 



Wisdom's Paradise by Rob Portman and Cheryl Bauer

The Warren County Historical Society plans to further develop its Shaker exhibits focusing on the many contributions the Shaker's made to the American culture.  Side by side with the Shaker story, the museum will also tell the Otterbein story. Simply put, the Shakers started a vision for the place they called Wisdom's Paradise and although the Shakers themselves could not continue the vision, Otterbein took up the task and continues it forward making their own contributions to the quality of life in our world.