Dedication of markers for the Defiance County Home Cemetery, October 25, 2015. Photo by Berne Heilshorn.
Historic Preservation
Defiance Riverside Chapel
Throughout the history of DAR, Historic Preservation has always been one of the main focuses of the mission of the organization. DAR members participate in a wide variety of Historic Preservation projects as it is crucial to saving our history for future generations. Fort Defiance Chapter took on a very important project in 1960s: the Riverside Chapel that was built in 1889. It is an excellent example of Gothic Revival architecture. It was intended as a dignified and sacred place of rest for the dead in the winter months when internment in the ground was difficult. Our chapter decided to take over the restoration and upkeep of the chapel after a fire in the 1960s that almost destroyed it. With taking on this project of restoration the chapter had much to accomplish, the walls and paint were scorched by the fire. Plastering and painting were required for half of the interior of the chapel. Windows had been broken out, this lead to a huge undertaking to have some of the sections of stained glass replaced to match the original window. Some of the area on the wainscoting needed to be sanded down and restrained or replaced completely. In the following years more restoration projects were overseen by the chapter, including sealing and cleaning of the exterior bricks, enclosing the stained glass windows, and resealing and repairing of the roof and chimney. In 1976, the Riverside Chapel was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The two most notable regents that made the Riverside Chapel their top priority with all their personal time and effort are Jane DeMent and Jean McMillen. In 2019, all interior woodwork was cleaned, repaired, and varnished along with the cleaning of the exterior, to last many generations to come.
A very entertaining and full of local history event every fall is the Riverside Cemetery Walk. The chapter partners with the Defiance Public Library for this event. The library picks various people buried in the cemetery, then people from the chapter or library dress in character of the person, standing by their grave to give a history of that person. There are two walking tour groups. The chapter has an open house in the chapel serving refreshments to the two tour groups that afternoon.
The Chapel Committee is very active in hosting open houses, weddings and funerals through the year.
Member Trish Speiser giving a program on "The Kettering's" at the Riverside Cemetery walk 2015. Photo by Berne Heilshorn.
The Riverside Chapel built in 1889. Photo by Berne Heilshorn.
Defiance County Home Cemetery
This project started in the spring of 2015, after discovering the headstones and numbered markers in the Defiance County Home Cemetery had been covered with dirt and grass seed planted. There was no trace of the ancestors who were buried there. After much research, it was decided to erect two large markers containing the 122 names of the individuals buried in the cemetery. Four members led in the research project: Sharon Gearing, Berne Heilshorn, Julie Miller, and Kathy Siemet. A book was compiled and published, and copies were donated to the Defiance Public Library and the NSDAR Library. It was also decided to replace the marker of John Taft, a Civil War Veteran. A dedication ceremony was held by the Fort Defiance Chapter, NSDAR, on October 25, 2015.
Defiance County Commissioner Otto Nicely speaking at the dedication. Photo by Berne Heilshorn.
Regent Berne Heilshorn thanking Defiance Area Foundation members Doug Shindler and Chris Yoder for the grant that enabled the chapter project. Photo by Berne Heilshorn.
Vice Regent Sharon Gearing and Doug Shinder standing behind the two grave markers. Photo by Berne Heilshorn.
Our chapter has always held cemeteries close to their heart. Our Bicentennial project (1975-1977) involved the planting of approximately 200 trees as living memorials in the Defiance Riverside Cemetery.
Any woman, aged 18 and up, who can trace her lineage from a Revolutionary War Patriot can become a member. Interested in joining us? Click here for more information, or visit the NSDAR or OSDAR website to learn more.
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