Artist Tom Miller’s fingerprints are all over the Holmes area, especially dotting the landscape of Sugarcreek, known as the Little Switzerland of Ohio
Miller, who grew up on Indiantree Farm outside of Walnut Creek, has seen his murals featured on the facades of many local businesses
The German Culture Museum in Walnut Creek has assembled a display of Miller’s life and work, and the collection will be a special feature this season
The museum will hold an open house from noon to 4 p.m. July 9-11, with the Miller collection serving as the newest addition and highlight
Miller’s daughter Rose presented the museum with a large collection of her father’s work, news articles and numerous informational pieces that tell the story of Miller’s career
“Tom was a self-taught artist who began as a young boy,” GCM board member Pam Miller said
One of the pieces on display is a drawing of squirrels Miller created in third grade, a drawing he threw away but his teacher Orpha Troyer rescued
“Orpha had it framed and gave it to him, so that is one of the earliest pieces we have of his artistry,” Pam Miller said. “Rose said Orpha actually gave Tom his first paint set, and to honor her, he gave her the first painting he ever created.”
The Tom Miller collection displays much of Miller’s earlier work, along with prints of some of his most beloved paintings, many of which honor Amish Country or the area’s Swiss heritage. It includes original paintings and prints, along with wood carvings
“We are delighted to be able to showcase Tom Miller’s incredible talents and to shine some light on how beautiful his work is and how passionate he was about his work,” Pam Miller said
In addition to the new collection, the museum also is hosting Miller’s 50-foot-wide mural that once hung on the façade of the Sugarcreek Fire Station for many years
Miller passed away 30 years ago, but his work lives on. There will be some of Miller’s prints available for purchase during the open house
“It’s a wonderful new addition to everything we present here at the museum,” Pam Miller said. “His works paint a beautiful picture of our history in this area.”
Other items on display will include the 4-by-8-foot mural painting of the Jacob Hochstetler Family Attack, which depicts the day a group of Delaware Indians united forces with the French militia to attack the Hochstetler family in the wee hours of a peaceful morning 270 years ago
There is much more to see and explore. Pam Miller said there is so much history in the museum that whether people are local or out of town, they can learn, explore and recapture the area’s history through every story, piece of furniture or equipment and piece of memorabilia
Another thing of note with the open house event is the push to have people submit historical stories from the Walnut Creek Township area. Pam Miller said there hasn’t been a great deal of historical data recorded since the Walnut Creek sesquicentennial book came out 50 years ago, and it is important to continue to record meaningful historical moments and events from the past 50 years
“If anyone knows of stories and events that have happened since the sesquicentennial, we’d love to receive it as part of creating historical events over the past half century. These true events need to be known and recorded,” she said. “It’s everyone’s opportunity to share.”
Entries must be ready to display as submitted and will be showcased during the upcoming Walnut Creek Township bicentennial celebration in July 2027
Entries should be on one side of paper only and unfolded and unstapled. People should write their name, mailing address and phone number on the back of each entry. Entries should be submitted during the open house July 9-11
Pam Miller said they are looking for information, fun stories, photos, drawings and anything related to the past 50 years of Walnut Creek history
The GCM is open May through October from noon to 4 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It is located at 4877 Olde Pump St. in Walnut Creek below the library
