By Cindy Gladden, Record Staff Writer
Cathie Schoppenhorst, Marthasville, is known for her intense fascination with history. She’ll be the first one to tell you that sometimes she eats, breathes and sleeps historical research.Schoppenhorst said her interest in genealogy and research of local history began after she married her husband, Robert, who she met at a dance in Warrenton.As she dabbled with the Schoppenhorst genealogy and found the family was related to so many people in the area, her interest was piqued and she has never turned down an interesting historical project since. She is often seen in old-time dress, portraying a Warren County person of note.Schoppenhorst worked with state archivist Bill Glankler to learn how to archive and preserve old documents and has taken several workshops. But most of her experience comes from spending time in dusty libraries poring over yellowed handwritten manuscripts, family records and microfiche.“My hobby has turned into a life skill,” she said. “It’s definitely more than a full-time passion. I love sharing history with people.”Early this year, Emmaus Homes asked Schoppenhorst if she would be interested in helping to catalogue and preserve the abundance of historical documents and artifacts located at the Marthasville Emmaus campus.Not one to turn down such an interesting project with such local significance, Schoppenhorst began what Emmaus representatives expect to be a two-year project. An anonymous donor made the Emmaus Homes Heritage Project possible.“My job is to catalogue everything, to store everything properly, label everything and make recommendations as to what tells the Emmaus story,” said Schoppenhorst. “By preserving these historical documents and artifacts we will be better able to share the story of Emmaus.”Some of the information may belong to other museums or historical societies, according to Schoppenhorst. Some of the documents are from the St. Charles campus and are also part of the Emmaus story.From 1850-1883, Eden Theological Seminary was housed on a picturesque property on Highway D east of Marthasville. After the seminary moved to Wellston, the property sat vacant for 10 years.In 1893, pastors and other lay people from the Evangelical Synod of the West opened a facility to serve people with epilepsy and developmental disabilities.Many documents that Schoppenhorst is cataloguing refer to the organization as “Emmaus Homes for Epileptics and Feebleminded.”Schoppenhorst said a newspaper printed in German, Der Friedens Bote (The Friedens Messenger) was published in one of the original stone buildings, called the Friedens Bote Building. Print blocks are among artifacts being catalogued.Among the books included in the historical collection, there are some that were published in the 1700s. They were donated to the facility and belonged to the first three-year student to graduate from Eden Seminary, J.P. Welsch, an immigrant carpenter from Germany.Schoppenhorst has found German handwritten regulations for the deaconess in charge, pastor’s notes, autograph books, old reel-to-reel movies, projectors and photographs. Medical logs detailing seizure occurrences and how they were treated may be available for medical research.“We have a list of employees with the date and place of birth and whether they were naturalized,” said Schoppenhorst. “For genealogists, 1910 was when birth certificates started. This may be the only record of their birthdate.”Schoppenhorst said the German language gave way to English in the 1930s. The Emmaus Messenger began to be published in English and German. By 1950s, most things were printed in English as a byproduct of war with Germany, but not the Bote.Volunteers JoAnn Tiedemann and Marian Stoerker Margolies began cataloging Emmaus documents in 2015 and filled several file cabinets containing interesting documentation. Schoppenhorst has taken over where they left off.Several time capsules from the St. Charles facility were also moved to the Marthasville campus when buildings were torn down. They were placed in building cornerstones in 1902, 1914, 1930, 1940 and 1950. Each contained newspapers, Greek Bibles, and information about the contractors who built the facility.Each time capsule was placed in a freezer for a month to kill mold spores before the contents were examined.Schoppenhorst is happy to be a part of preserving the history of Emmaus Homes, especially since the historic Marthasville campus will no longer be used after 2020.“The staff is grateful I’m doing the work,” she said. “That is gratifying. I truly want to preserve this great history.”Schoppenhorst hopes that the Emmaus Homes Heritage Project will make it possible for people to view the organization’s rich history in future displays that will be available to the public.In addition to the Emmaus project, Schoppenhorst is also busy preparing for the Marthasville Bicentennial celebration to take place June 17-18. She will be participating in a historic cemetery program Sunday, May 28, at 1 p.m. at the cemetery on South Street in Marthasville.Cathie Schoppenhorst, Marthasville, has been hired to head up the Emmaus Homes Heritage Project. Her job is to ensure that all Emmaus Homes documents and artifacts are cataloged, stored properly and labeled. She will also make recommendations as to which items will be on public display in the future. Record photo/ Cindy Gladden.
Old newspapers, time capsules, photographs, reel-to-reel movies and books are just a part of the significant items that will be preserved from the Emmaus Homes Marthasville and St. Charles campuses. Record photo/Cindy Gladden.
