A Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) or Black Tupelo is the latest addition to our Arboretum at the Wildlife Preserve, which is a part of the New Indian Ridge Museum located at the Historic 1816 Jacob Shupe Homestead in Amherst, OH.  The tree was generously donated by Diane and Bill Nahorn for Col. Nahorn’s birthday, which is this October.  Special thanks to Art Parker (our Museum Arborist) of the Rock Pile Garden Center.  It is a beautiful specimen: in the Spring, its leaves will emerge in a red or orange color; they will then turn green; and in the Fall, the leaves will once again turn red and orange.  We look forward to seeing the change of seasons through this tree.  Read more information regarding the Arboretum under the Wildlife Preserve tab on this website.

Col. Nahorn stands beside the newest addition to the Preserve’s “Arboretum,” a Black Gum. 

Mr. Chris Canalos, of Georgia, and his mother, visited the New Indian Ridge Museum and donated a nice wooden “Lab” sign that hung above the door to Col. Vietzen’s Lab at his Indian Ridge Museum.  Mr. Canalos found us via our website.  He had visited with the Vietzens many times over the years.  Thanks to his generosity, we now have the original Museum’s Lab sign preserved at the New Indian Ridge Museum!

The LaGrange Engine Club will once again hold their annual show at the Lorain County Fairgrounds during the weekend of September 16-18.  Please stop out at the Fairgrounds to see hundreds of tractors, hit and miss gas engines, steam engines, a portable sawmill, and many, many other antique and modern day related machinery on display – and most in working order!  The New Indian Ridge Museum always participates, showing our 1951 Farmall H, 1952 Farmall Cub, 1920s Jaeger Hit and Miss Engine, and Bill Nahorn’s Woodmizer Portable Sawmill.  The weekend will be fun-filled, so bring the family.  Food is provided.  There is a small admission charge, or you may join the Engine Club and get free admission for the weekend.

Visit the LaGrange Engine Club’s website for more info: http://www.lagrangeengineclub.com/

The 166th Annual Lorain County Fair kicks off today.  We will be visiting, participating in, and documenting Fair Week as it unfolds.  Check the photo gallery entitled “166th Annual Lorain County Fair” under our photo section for the most updated photos from the Fair!  Thanks and check back often. Visit www.loraincountyfair.com for their most updated information.

Col. Nahorn will present the New Indian Ridge Museum’s signature program “Indian Ridge Museum from Old to New” at the North Ridgeville Rotary for their meeting on Friday, August 12 at 12:30.  For more information, please contact the Museum offices by visiting our contact page.  The PowerPoint slide program traces the history of Col. Vietzen’s original Indian Ridge Museum that was located in Elyria to how Col. Nahorn became interested and began the New Indian Ridge Museum at the Historic 1816 Jacob Shupe Homestead and Wildlife Preserve in Amherst.  Early Amherst history will also be explored and explained along with other early prehistoric Lorain County history.  For more information about the museum, visit newindianridgemuseum.org

A well-made celt (ungrooved axe) made by the Hopewell people (Middle Woodland) that was found during “deep plowing” farming operations in Lorain County, is now preserved at the Museum.  We were contacted by the farmer who found the artifact in the area of Russia and Old Oberlin Roads in New Russia Twp., Lorain County, Ohio just this past week.  After speaking with the gentleman, he offered it for sale to the Museum.  We agreed on a price and are pleased to now be able to preserve this recently found local artifact.  It retains a nice polish on the bit.

The Sandusky Bay Chapter of the Archaeological Society of Ohio (ASO) held their summer July potluck and meeting at the New Indian Ridge Museum.  The ASO is the largest state Archaeological Society in the United States.  Here are some photos from the event.

UPDATE: Transcript of the speech to follow:

“Amherst traces its roots back to as early as 1811, when the founding father, Jacob Shupe, purchased certain tracts of land in 1811 from Calvin and Martha Austin and constructed a log house in what would become Amherst.  It was not until 1816 that Mr. Shupe purchased yet another parcel of property, containing 300 hundred acres for $600, extending all the way to Lake Erie and encompassing the waters of Beaver Creek.  This is where he would construct the first sawmill, gristmill, distillery, and the first frame house in Amherst.  Mr. Shupe actually began industry in the Amherst and Lorain County areas, using the waterpower of the Beaver Creek.

Mr. Jacob Shupe participated in and began many “firsts” in Amherst and Lorain County, Ohio.  As it is described in the book A Biographical History of Lorain County 1879, Jacob Shupe was “the first settler in the territory now in the bounds of Amherst, making the first clearing in the [area].”

“He built … the first mill in the county of Lorain.” And “The first saw mill, the first grist mill, and the first distillery were built by Jacob Shupe.”  These mills that Mr. Shupe started were an integral factor of importance in their time.  Before Shupe’s mills, settlers in the Black River area had to either travel with their grist to Chagrin Falls (48 miles away) or to the Huron River (30 miles away); these journeys are said to have taken a duration of 3 days.  By building and operating these mills, Mr. Shupe shortened the early settler’s trips and left a legacy for other settlers to follow in his tracks.

Mr. Shupe was also the father of eleven children.  One of them was Betsy, the first white born child in Amherst.

Other important “firsts” that Mr. Shupe is known for include; constructing the first log house, and he “undoubtedly” built the first frame house.  The cabin is no longer in existence; but, the frame home continues to stand today on 15 of the original 300 acres that Shupe settled.  Its construction was finished by 1827; this is where my family and I reside, and the house still retains many original aspects; however, restoration efforts are ongoing.

Although the only remaining physical history of Mr. Jacob Shupe’s hard work is the frame home that he constructed and the site he settled in Amherst, Mr. Shupe left an impressive legacy of “firsts” behind.  These first events laid a firm foundation and enabled the other early settlers of Amherst to prosper and continue what Mr. Shupe worked so hard to establish.  Today Amherst is a thriving community, and I am certain that Jacob Shupe would be pleased with his town 200 years later.”

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Col. Nahorn will deliver some short remarks during opening ceremonies at the Amherst Historical Society’s Old Time Jamboree this year.  The topic of these remarks will be commemorating this year as Amherst’s Bicentennial (1811-2011).  His remarks will highlight the early years of Amherst and more specifically focus on the founder, Jacob Shupe and his contributions to this area.  The Jamboree will be held Friday-Sunday July 8-11, with opening ceremonies being Friday, July 8 at 5pm in downtown Amherst. Please plan to attend the opening ceremony and visit the Jamboree festivities as well.  Also, there will be a Bicentennial booklet published by the Amherst Historical Society, which we urge everyone to pick up at the AHS booth.  The booklet will have photos of the Shupe Homestead and accompanying information and history provided by Col. Nahorn and the New Indian Ridge Museum, regarding the first settlement and house in Amherst. Please contact the NIRM offices with any questions.  Thank you.

This time of the year all of the invasive and non-native plant species may be clearly seen taking over the landscapes of many natural areas across the country.  Even though the 1816 Historic Shupe Homestead Wildlife Preserve at the New Indian Ridge Museum is home to numerous native plant life, there are some non-native and invasive species that have begun to make their way onto the property.  In an effort to hinder them from taking a strong hold and choking out native plants, which are necessary for biodiversity and nutrients for native birds and animals, our staff is taking initiatives to get these plant species under control before it is impossible to do so.  Some of the plants on the list that we have been fighting, include: Japanese Honeysuckle, Garlic Mustard, Canada Thistle, Multiflora Rose, Grape vines, and Japanese Knotweed.  We recently located a small section of Japanese Knotweed in the Beaver Creek floodplain on our preserve, and were able to eradicate that, for the most part.  We have undertaken a multi-year program (which starts in late April-early June of each year) for the removal of Garlic Mustard, and this initiative has been extremely successful.  The number of plants removed has been greatly reduced as each year passes, allowing for a diverse number of native plants to move into and inhabit the area.  Currently, our removal program for Canada Thistle that has begun this year (starts yearly in early June-mid-June), and largely because of the wet weather, we are seeing a large yield of this invasive this year.  However, in spots where trees have continued to mature, they are shading out the spots for the Canada Thistle and doing a fine job of crowding it out.

Col. Nahorn will present his New Indian Ridge Museum’s signature program “Indian Ridge Museum from Old to New” at Mary, Mother of God, formerly St. Mary’s Church, in Lorain on Thursday, June 9.  For more information, please contact the Museum offices at nirm89@gmail.com.  The PowerPoint program traces the history of Col. Vietzen’s original Indian Ridge Museum that was located in Elyria to how Col. Nahorn became interested and began the New Indian Ridge Museum at the Historic 1816 Jacob Shupe Homestead and Wildlife Preserve in Amherst.  Early Amherst history will also be explored and explained.  For more information about the museum, visit newindianridgemuseum.org