(PHOTOS BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
GO FORTH … Hands were raised after the group of people present were asked who was part of the Christian Lauber family. A good amount of people raised their hands which showed just how much of an impact the family had on the area after moving here so long ago.
PLAQUE … Fulton County Museum President John Myles (left) and Director John Swearingen (right) hold up the new plaque that will commemorate families for the Lauber hill site.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
The first annual Lauber Hill Founder’s Day Celebration was recently held at the Lauber Hill Reformed Mennonite Church.
The event took place on Sunday, August 18th at 4:00 p.m. and was put on by the Museum of Fulton County. The organization saw a tremendous turnout for the event, with the church pews being packed from front to back.
Guests were treated to a short program that saw the introduction of Lauber family members. A timeline of the Christian Lauber family was also presented, along with a presentation delivered by Jana Broghlin about the book called “The Laubers: A Journey of Faith”.
In this presentation, Jana discussed the numerous steps taken to look into the Christian Lauber family and trace their movements throughout history.
The community plaque unveiling took place next, followed by a dinner prayer (conducted in silence), and a hymn led by Beverly Ernst. Everyone was then dismissed and directed to the Ott Family Barn for a Sunday meal.
Director of the Fulton County Museum, John Swearingen, explained that the Christian Lauber family was special due to their settling of German Township.
He further explained that most of the residents in German Township are most likely related in some way or another, along with their close ties to families’ other areas close by.
The weekend this event was held was also chosen due to it being near the anniversary of when the Christian Lauber family arrived in Fulton County, then Henry County.
This event is also only the first in a long list of planned celebrations to be held at the Lauber Hill Church. The plan, currently, is to celebrate one of the first five families that arrived in German Township.
After that, the commemorations will branch out and will feature additional families. Mr. Swearingen explained that families just kept coming to the area every year up into the 1880’s. So, with that being said, there should be a good number of choices as time goes on.
This event, year over year, will help to memorialize those who came before us, just as the building itself is a memorial to the families that lived there and were part of the Lauber community.