The 1885 Sweitzer Barn

This barn, the oldest structure on the property, is a real beauty.

We will tell you more about her in the future. For now a few pictures should give you the idea of what a great barn it really is.

We hope it will be the future home of The Botzum Country Store.

The 1906 Farmhouse

We thought you might like to know what has been happening with the Preservation and Restoration of the 1906 Farmhouse. Over the course of this year we will post some pictures of the work that has taken place over the last 6 years. It has been a slow and tedious process, but the results are wonderful and very satisfying.

This picture is taken looking at the Southeast corner of the house. The yellow paint was applied over the molded concrete block sometime in the 60's. We had it tested and...no lead. The broken and battered windows have been removed, the chimney relined and rebuilt above the new roof.

The house, because of lack of care and maintenance, had fallen into a complete state of disrepair. The roof had been leaking for months, if not years, causing irreparable damage to the plaster ceilinga and walls. All of the windows, save a few, were broken. Doors kicked in and woodwork damaged beyond repair. The plumbing, heating and electrical were all insufficient and not in any working order. In short...the house needed to be gutted completely, bare to the molded concrete block walls. We were able to save the stud work, the original yellow pine floors, the interior door jambs and many of the five panel ladder doors...and of course the brick chimney.

Renovations

Working towards Weddings!

Work was progressing in earnest on the restoration of the 1906 farm house in the winter of 2000, when at Christmas time, our middle daughter Kirsten became engaged, followed shortly by her older sister, Kimberly early in January of 2001. Both of them informed us that they would like to marry during the Summer of 2001, utilizing the family farm in some way. More specifically, Kimberly & Peter wished to get married in the 1898 Bank Barn, while Kirsten & Josh desired to use the barn for their reception.

Well, we could have said "no", but what are parents for! So the answer was "yes" so we needed to temporarily abandon work on the farmhouse and begin, with a vengeance, on the barn. So, Maureen and the girls started working, planning...and praying. George, our son Ryan, future son-in-law Josh, two very dear friends, Louie and Randy, and a group of Randy's buddies went to work at full speed. We began on the Bank Barn and surrounding corral, replacing fence in the field and re-roofing the old machine shed. Barn flooring, posts, beams and siding were removed and replaced (more work than words). Sliding barn doors & track were replaced, Poison Ivy removed (on the hottest day of Spring) and a twenty-five by forty-five foot deck was added in front of the barn. Finally, lighting, outlets and fans were added, of course, after electricity was installed, then the floor was sanded and sealed.

After a brief rain late on June 15th, the dawn of June 16th. brought bright blue skies, puffy white clouds, and a spring breeze to the picturesque farm. Guests arrived and a wonderful celebration followed while Kimberly became the first direct descendent of Conrad Botzum to marry at the old homestead. Then on August 11th, on an almost duplicate day, Kirsten was married at The Chapel, in Akron and welcomed friends and family to her reception hosted in the barn.

Other Renovations

Much has been accomplished along with The Bank Barn. Beside the new roof on the Machine Shed and the new fencing, routine mowing and maintenance continues.

Since the weddings, work has continued on the house. All the new heating, air-conditioning, plumbing and electrical is in. The house is insulated, dry walled and painted. All of the windows have been installed and George has on his carpenters hat, doing the trim work. The porch has been completely redone in rough sawn cedar and redwood, including custom made screens. It is awaiting spring for a coat of stain. All of the kitchen cabinets and counter tops have been installed. The floors have been sanded and the second floor completed. Two bathrooms are in and working, along with paint, wall paper borders and light fixtures. The first floor is almost finished, while the third floor awaits trim.

The Summer of 2005 saw us rebuilding the Sweitzer Barn foundation with old sandstone foundation blocks; demolishing the collapsing 1930's cottage and mowing lots and lots of grass.

History

The Botzum Family

John George Botzum was born in Neuhaes, Germany in1796. He married Katherine Dragaser, of Urmmeispatch, Germany also born in 1796. We believe they were married somewhere between 1818 and 1820. Their home was situated along the Rhine River near Strausburg.

John George had served seven years as a soldier, having fought in the Battle of Waterloo. He hated war, and having five sons, who would come of age and be drafted into the German army, he and Katherine dreamed of another land, in the new world, where they could raise their family in peace.

In May of 1836, John George and wife Katherine, and seven children: Michael, 15; Suzanna, 12; Nicholas, 11; John George, 9; John Adams, 5; Catherine Margaret, 3; and infant John August,1, immigrated from Germany to New York on a sailing ship, and found their way to Cleveland, Ohio later that same year. Shortly thereafter, Katherine gave birth to their eighth child, Conrad, who was born in St. Mary's Flats (what is today called The Flats).

Along the Cuyahoga

When the baby, Conrad, was old enough, the family left St. Mary's Flats and traveled by flat bottom boat to Niles, Ohio (near the intersection of what is today Bath and Riverview Roads). John's first job was digging ditches, probably related to The Ohio & Erie Canal, for 50 cents a day, while Katherine worked in the wheat fields and kept boarders. They lived in a log cabin somewhere between Ghent and Niles. (Some historians believe that Conrad was born in the log cabin rather than in St Mary's Flats.)

Though exact records are unclear as to whether it was John George Botzum or Richard Howe who first purchased 600 acres of land from the Connecticut Land Company for $2.00/acre, Summit County Tax Auditor's Duplicate Tax Records do indicate strong Botzum family land holdings by 1860. These same records show that John August Botzum was the owner of 200 acres in 1874, and transferred ownership to his brother Conrad in 1884.

Building on the Farmstead

Conrad built the Sweitzer barn, the smaller of two barns on the property in 1885, at a cost of $200. The larger Bank Barn was built in 1898, despite the Depression of 1893. Following a fire in 1906, which destroyed the circ 1835 frame house built by Richard Howe, the current molded concrete block house, summer kitchen and privy were built.

At this time, with the Botzum Brothers businesses flourishing, the family moved to Akron, residing on Botzum Court, a street that still bears the family name at the end of Walnut Street off of West Market Street behind St. Vincent’s Church. The Botzum family held reunions at the old cottage on the North end of the property, built by the brothers in the 1930's, until late in the 1950's, while tenant farmers cared for the farm until the early 70's.

Changes in Ownership

In December of 1963, Sherman Shoemaker, the family’s insurance man, and his wife Mary purchased the farm from the Botzum family. Then in March of 1991, the farm was sold to the Public Trust for Lands and subsequently, became part of the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area. Early in 1996, the farm, land and buildings were found to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Then in July of 1996, the National Park Service put out a Request For Proposals, to the private sector, to lease and restore the farm. On April 13, 1998, the Winkelmann's lease began.

Today The Conrad Botzum Farmstead, a 501.c.3, non-profit corporation, is working to preserve and restore the Farmstead under the direction of it’s Board of Directors and the leadership of George and Maureen Winkelmann. Maureen is Conrad’s Great Grand-daughter. Weddings began to be held in The 1898 Bank Barn in June of 2001. (See our Photos)