The Tecklenburg Hotel
1890-1918
(aka the Tecklenburg House)
(previously the Vondrele House/Hotel)
Built 1869 & operated originally by Joseph Vondrele
Owned and operated in Berlin, Shelby County, Ohio
(later known as Village of Loramies, then Loramie, and finally Ft. Loramie)
by
Henry Tecklenburg and his wife, Katharina / Katharine / Catherine Marie / Mary Lehmann.
1890-1918
(aka the Tecklenburg House)
(previously the Vondrele House/Hotel)
Built 1869 & operated originally by Joseph Vondrele
Owned and operated in Berlin, Shelby County, Ohio
(later known as Village of Loramies, then Loramie, and finally Ft. Loramie)
by
Henry Tecklenburg and his wife, Katharina / Katharine / Catherine Marie / Mary Lehmann.
by
Audrey 6 (Lehmann-Shields) Hancock (ASH)
[Rita Marie 5 (Lehmann) Shields; John Michael4 Lehmann; Martin Michael3 Lehmann, Sr.; Michel2 Lehmann; Johannes1 Lehmann]Katharine/Catherine (nee Lehmann) Tecklenburg was great-aunt of Audrey.
Hotel
(aka State Route #66 (Main St.) and State Route #705 (Park St. which runs west out of Ft. Loramie)
(Part of Undated Map of McLean Township, Shelby County, Ohio)
("Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987," Fort Loramie Historical Assn., 1987, pp. 27, 65)
("Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987," Fort Loramie Historical Assn., 1987, p. 65)
("Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987," Fort Loramie Historical Assn., 1987, p. 65)
("Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987," Fort Loramie Historical Assn., 1987, p. 71)
In 1877, Henry Tecklenburg, son of Henry Tecklenburg of Hesse, Germany and Catharine Hinders of Oldenburg, Germany, had a harness shop in the village of Berlin.1 On 09 October 1879 at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Berlin, Shelby County, Ohio, Henry married Katharina Marie (aka Katharine/Catherine Mary) Lehmann, daughter of Martin Michael Lehmann, Sr. & Agatha / Agnes Katharina Reichert.2 Martin had immigrated with his parents from Schirrhein, (Alsace) Bas-Rhin, France/Germany and Martin's wife, Agnes Katharina Reichert, came from Nussloch, Baden, Germany. A number of descendants spell the surname LEHMAN.
The history of the village of Berlin cannot be written without mentioning the Vondrele House (later the Tecklenburg House/Hotel), which "was built in 1869 and had a beer garden" in the back to the east.3 An ice house was also associated with the establishment.4 It is said that the Berlin band would conduct a wedding party from the church to the hotel for the wedding reception.5 It would seem likely that this practice perhaps continued many years as the hotel passed from one owner to another.
by
R. Sutton and Co.
1883
Courtesy of: Jim Rosengarten, Curator, Wilderness Trail Museum & Fort Loramie Historical Association of Fort Loramie, Ohio
John French, a money lender, is said to have leased the hotel in 1878 from Vondreles.6 At the time of the 1880 United States Federal Census the Vondrele Hotel was operated (perhaps owned) by Christopher Haisch and his wife.7 Joseph Vondrele and his wife lived next door in 1880. Since Christopher Haisch is said to have died in 1882, the Haisch family's sojourn at Vondrele House was brief. After this and before the Tecklenburgs purchase in 1890, it is said to have been operated by the Eilermans.8.
Dates of 1880, 1882, & 1883
Painting, varnishing plows, repairing plows, liquor & cigars
Courtesy of: Jim Rosengarten, Curator, Wilderness Trail Museum & Fort Loramie Historical Association of Fort Loramie, Ohio
In 1890, the hotel and saloon passed into the hands of Henry and Katherine/Catherine (Lehmann) Tecklenburg.9 It appears that at this time it became known as the Tecklenburg House, and eventually the Tecklenburg Hotel, and here room and board could be purchased for "$47.80 a month".10
Courtesy of: Jim Rosengarten, Curator, Wilderness Trail Museum & Fort Loramie Historical Association of Fort Loramie, Ohio
(Identification (2009) from Brian Davis (a meterologist of Dayton, OH) & descendant of John Tecklenburg & Mary Victoria Mougey; (2010) from Evelyn (nee Tecklenburg) Scott and her daughter, Susan (nee Scott) Meeks, a descendant of John Tecklenburg & Mary Victoria Mougey.)
Unknown gentleman in a dark suit; Catherine (nee Lehmann) Tecklenburg (wf/o Henry), Henry Tecklenburg; Unknown lady; Unknown lady; Unknown gentleman.
In the summer, family members (my aunts--ASH) would work for their Aunt Kate and Uncle Henry. Of these, were the eldest daughters of John Lehmann & Mary Catherine Mills of Piqua, Miami County, Ohio. These were nieces of Katharine/Catherine: Catherine, Johanna "Jennie", Henrietta "Heine", and Regina "Jean" Lehmann. This group also included a cousin, Clara Lehmann, the daughter of Martin Michael Lehmann, Jr. and future cousin-in-law, Viola Poeppelmeier (later wf/o Henry Lehmann).
(Identifications by ASH=Audrey (Lehmann-Shields) Hancock)
The others are probably unknown patrons.
As seen above, within the hotel was a beautiful bar. We can imagine that in its heyday, the Vondrele House/Hotel and in its time the Tecklenburg House/Hotel must have been a cornerstone of the community and a refuge for those seeking a place to stay and/or a place to enjoy the company of others. We know it was a center of activity, as in its day one would go to this little English/French/German community and here at the hotel they could celebrate special events and/or imbibe in the spirits of the day, which included lots of beer and cheer for their German speaking inhabitants.
[Note: I was told that my mother's "Aunt Rachel" Lehmann, a spinster and the sister of Katharine (Lehmann) Tecklenburg, could be seen walking to town with her beer pail in hand. Perhaps she fetched her beer from the Techlenburg Hotel. ASH]
Tecklenburg Hotel Bar.
It appears that the Tecklenburg's also operated the Tecklenburg Livery Barn in 1883, which caught fire and burned sometime after 1912.11 This would surely have complemented Henry's earlier occupation in Berlin as a saddler in 1877. He perhaps carried on this trade even after purchased the hotel.
In 1918, the Tecklenburg Hotel was sold. It is said that the hotel then passed into the hands of the Benders, then Segers, and possibly unknown others. "Later it was Benders, then Segers and probably other owners not mentioned."12
After Katherine's death in 1923, Henry moved in 1926 to Troy, Miami County, Ohio and passed away in 1931.
Jim Rosengarten, [2005] Curator of the Wilderness Trail Museum & Fort Loramie Historical Association gave this accounting, "My Great Aunt and Uncle bought the hotel about 1930. I don�t know who they bought the hotel from. I do know that it went by several different names before they bought it. At one time it was owned by the Brucken Family, who also operated a bar/tavern on Elm Street. Bruckens rented the building/business to several different persons over the years."... "Originally, William 'Dutch' Smith and his wife Margaret bought the hotel, but Dutch died just a few years later. That is when Rose [Farmer] became a part owner." [Margaret Smith and Rose Farmer were Jim Rosengarten's great aunts.] "They operated the hotel until 1955 when it was sold to Henry Seger. He operated it for about 25 years when it changed hands several times up until about 2000." (Internet, E-mail 22-23 Dec 2005 to ASH from Jim Rosengarten)
Jim Rosengarten has shared this ca 1930s menu from the hotel. Among the items listed was an "Oyster Sandwich." He says, "Hard to believe they could get fresh oysters, but they did via railway."
Courtesy of: Jim Rosengarten, Curator, Wilderness Trail Museum & Fort Loramie Historical Association of Fort Loramie, Ohio
However, today the Vondrele Hotel, later the Tecklenburg Hotel, or whatever name it was known by in later years, is only a shell of a building left to future plans, which in time can only be told in a stories and pictures. This once glorious building is reduced to a skeletal remain, that serves as a reminder to days gone by, and a tribute to the sons and daughters of the English, German, and Irish pioneers who built the village into a thriving small town.
Courtesy of: Jim Rosengarten, Curator, Wilderness Trail Museum & Fort Loramie Historical Association of Fort Loramie, Ohio
Courtesy of: Jim Rosengarten, Curator, Wilderness Trail Museum & Fort Loramie Historical Association of Fort Loramie, Ohio
Courtesy of: Jim Rosengarten, Curator, Wilderness Trail Museum & Fort Loramie Historical Association of Fort Loramie, Ohio
Sources and End Notes
1. Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987, Fort Loramie Historical Assn., 1987
2. Ohio Marriage Records 3. Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987, Fort Loramie Historical Assn., 1987, pp. 32-33: "The Vondrelle Hotel was built in 1869 and had a beer garden to the east."
4. Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987, Fort Loramie Historical Assn., 1987, p. 70: "In 1875 merchant houses took care of teh task of providing for cold beer to thirsty patrons. There were four known ice houses in Ft. Loramie: Vondrelles, Bruckens, Rottinghouses, and Lehmans (sic)."
5. Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987, Fort Loramie Historical Assn., 1987, pp. 32-33: "...the Berlin band conducted a wedding party from the church to the hotel for the wedding celebration."
6. Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987," Fort Loramie Historical Assn., 1987, pp. 33 735: "In 1878 John French leased the hotel." One could borrow money locally from John French and others at 6 % interest.
7. Ancestry.com: 1850 United States Federal Census, Christopher Haisch and wife operated the Vondrele's House/Hotel. The Vondreles (aka Vondrelle) were enumerated next to the Haish family.
8. Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987, Fort Loramie Historical Assn., 1987, p. 33: "Later it became Eilermans..."
9. Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987, Fort Loramie Historical Assn., 1987, p. 33: "...and in 1890 Henry Tecklenburg took charge."
10. Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987, Fort Loramie Historical Assn., 1987, p. 35: "Room and board could be had for $47.80 a month at Tecklenberg's (sic) Hotel."
11. Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987, Fort Loramie Historical Assn., 1987,
p. 35: "...and the Tecklenberg (sic) Livery Barn which occurred later. All of the buildings were burned beyond repair."
p. 70: "In 1883 Berlin boasted of having two livery stables"..."..., and Tecklenbergs (sic), which burned in the 1910s."
12. Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987, Fort Loramie Historical Assn., 1987, p. 33
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Revised: 14 October 2009
Revised: 04 April 2017