NEW KNOXVILLE — The Auglaize County Historical Society will participate in the statewide “Ohio Open Doors” initiative with an open house from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, at the former Olive Branch Methodist Church, located on state Route 219 just east of New Knoxville. The free event will include tours of the Gothic Revival building, as well as live music on site.
According to the historical society, the Olive Branch Church was founded as a United Brethren in Christ congregation in 1841. The United Brethren merged with the Methodist denomination in 1968, forming the United Methodist Church. The Olive Branch congregation disbanded as of December 2001, and the property was deeded to the Auglaize County Historical Society in 2003.
Local historians said two veterans of the Revolutionary War and 22 veterans of the Civil War are buried in the cemetery that surrounds the church building.
