'A huge honor': Ernest Warther Museum added to National Register of Historic Places
DOVER ‒ The Ernest Warther Museum and Gardens has been named to the National Register of Historic Places, joining 23 other sites in Tuscarawas County that have earned that designation.
"After a lot of hard work, a lot of writing, it was a great feeling," said Kristen Harmon, the museum director and great-granddaughter of Ernest "Mooney" Warther, who is known as the World's Master Carver.
"I think it's really a huge honor, especially for Mooney as an artist because they listed us at the national and state level," Harmon said. "Getting an individual to be listed at those levels is pretty difficult to prove, that he was important society, to our culture on a national and state level. It's a great honor."
The application process took two years. Museum officials met with representatives from the State Historic Preservation Office, who explained the process. Harmon said the museum had to submit 75 to 80 pages of content, along with photographs, in the application. The state Historic Preservation Office reviewed the application and then forwarded it to the National Park Service, which runs the program.
Warther officials learned that the application had been approved on June 8, which is not only the anniversary of the current museum's opening but also the 50th anniversary of Mooney Warther's death. He died June 8, 1973, at age 87.
"So the timing was kind of interesting," Harmon said.
The entire property at 331 Karl Ave. is on the National Register, including the museum, the family home, Warther's workshop and the playground he created below the museum.
Mooney Warther began carving when he was 5
Warther began carving at the age of 5, when he found a pocketknife on a dirt road. He started whittling and continued for the next 82 years. He hand-sculpted more than 60 works, with a focus on the steam engine. He gained national recognition for his ability.
Ernest and Frieda Warther opened the first museum in their backyard on May 10, 1936. Today, the Ernest Warther Museum is owned and operated by third- and fourth-generation family members. Visitors come from around the world to tour the museum today.
Tourism brings $400 million into Tuscarawas County each year
There are more than 4,000 National Register of Historic Places in Ohio, said, Dee Grossman, executive director of the Tuscarawas County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
"As these places have been deemed worthy of preservation by the National Parks Service, we too should be looking for ways to preserve our history," she said. "People think often about the future and what it will look like. I say our future is only worthy of preservation if we take the time to preserve our past.
"The Warther Museum, with its original Mooney Warther workshop, is one of those sites that we must preserve. We must maintain the integrity of that site along with our other historic places here in Tuscarawas County."
Tourism brings in $400 million annually to Tuscarawas County. "Having one more on our list of historic sites can only add to our many reasons to visit the county," Grossman said.
Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.
Tree carving: Dan Warther carving seven sets of pliers into maple tree in front of Warther Museum
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Warther Museum in Dover joins National Register of Historic Places
