This is a photo of the foundation of the old house.
The foundation of the old spring house.
|
ABOUT THE ZIMMERSThe Zimmer family immigrated from Germany to America in the mid- 1800s. Johann Phillip Zimmer build his homestead having a house, spring house, outhouse, and barn on the property. Records back then were scarce so it is believed that Johann gave the property to his youngest son, Frederick. He lived on this property until his death in 1877. William Henry, Frederick's son, bought the property later on. When William died in 1920 his wife sold the property off. Eventually in 1958 Henry Metzger purchases the property and donated it to the Hillier Family Foundation in which Ohio Northern University uses the property for a Center of Environmental Studies.
The Zimmer family's first house is a traditional German style square house. There was a stove instead of a chimney. The artifacts around the home suggest that the Zimmers were neither poor nor rich. Johann did well for his family as a farmer and herder.
Because of the lack of electricity spring houses were used to keep food cold. Johann Zimmer built their spring house west of the natural spring flowing through the area. Fredrick built a new house, spring house, and barn after supposed a fire to the barn. Professor Schuck thinks where the old barn burnt down the current barn is now. This is because over the years there has been no evidence of an old barn. Currently the new house is in use today, serving as a living space for the professors. The barn and spring house are both used as storage. |