DMHS - Its Beginning

History of DMHS

Prior to 1993 there had been no formal effort to save any artifacts, buildings or records in the area. But that year a Steering Committee led in the restoration of the Bender House. Seven years later in the year 2000, the time had come to form a more permanent organization. A group visited the Mennonite Heritage Center and Museum in Harleysville, PA for ideas. An enthusiastic group of present and past members of Delaware Mennonite churches met on October 28, 2000 at the new location of the Bender House for clean-up, painting and repairs. They enjoyed food, fellowship, a hymn sing and the election of the first Board of Directors of the fledgling Delaware Mennonite Historical Society.

Conviction and Vision

A variety of men and women of conviction in the past century pioneered the Mennonite presence in the Delaware community. Among them were Will Tressler and Val Bender who married sisters, Barbara and Caroline Gingerich. Lewis J. Swartzentruber also provided leadership in the God-directed destiny of this fledgling community. Christian Schrock was also an early settler. His son Eli, married Lucy, daughter of Val Bender, and it was their children who helped spearhead the preservation of the Bender House and record family history.

Every community has at least one person with a special passion for history. The Delaware Mennonite community has been blessed with that man— Laban L. Swartzentruber, son of Lewis J., who married Nanna, another daughter of Val Bender.

History was a personal joy to “LL” and he recorded it well. Laban and his family commissioned his son-in-law, Harold Huber to write a comprehensive history of the Greenwood community. This work, With Eyes of Faith, was published in 1973.