The 1858 Peter Tobias-Zimmer barn is a one-story salt box design with the white oak frame mortised and pinned. It was built by Peter Tobias in 1858 and subsequently owned by The Zimmer Family. From the plain style of the barn, it is thought that the carpenters were Shakers. It came from the area known as “The Big Woods” in Beavercreek. The original siding was vertical white pine with hand-split walnut lap-sided gable ends. All materials came from the farm except the white pine siding.
Originally, it was located in Zimmer Estates on the property of Bob and Agnes Zimmer who donated the barn and moved it in one piece to Wartinger Park in 1996. The barn was used among other things, for threshing. Sheaves of grain (mostly wheat, oats, and barley) were stored in the mow following a short curing time in the shock. During the yearly threshing season, the threshing machine was positioned on the barn floor with the rear barn doors open. Straw was blown on a pile out in the barnyard. After the move, new board and batten siding was added along with a concrete floor. The old metal roof and wood roof shingles were removed and replaced with a new standing seam metal roof.
The barn now contains many demonstration items used by the Beavercreek Historical Society for their Wartinger Park functions.
Turn east on Lakeview Drive and follow around to the right.
Perched on a hill at 2381 Old Home Court is the stately Tobias–Zimmer House, built in 1859 by Peter Tobias. The land was originally deeded to Jesse Hunt via a land grant and subsequently divided. It was so densely wooded that it became known as “The Big Woods”. An early schoolhouse was built in 1839 on a half acre of land donated by then owner, Henry Ankeney. The limestone front step and school bell can still be seen in the front yard! The Shaker construction features hand hewn, mortised and pinned white oak frame construction with walnut woodwork.
In 1950, Bob Zimmer purchased the 103 acre farm from the Batdorf family, which ran Miami Valley’s largest turkey farm onsite in the 1940’s.
The second 90° turn is home to the William Tobias House at 2057 Beaver Valley Road, built about 1820. Formerly known as Broadview Farm, this is located on an old Shawnee Indian trail. William Tobias had been a tenant farmer in Sugarcreek Township and purchased a log home and 86 acres in 1869. He replaced it with a two-story mortised and pinned frame structure prior to 1879.
The William Tobias House is now owned and maintained by local developer, Bob Mills.
At the first 90° curve sits the Gerlaugh-Tobias House built by David Gerlaugh in 1821. Built in the vernacular style with Shaker influences, the foundation walls are of brick and there is a full basement – very unusual for the era. The Siebenthaler Company bought it in 1979 and is preserving the historical integrity of the home.
An ancient Siberian Elm dominates the front yard. OSU has designated it the largest elm of its kind in the United States.
https://beavercreekliving.com/book/itemlist/tag/Tobias#sigProId92c73b4189
When you reach the stoplight at Kemp Road, turn right. Just to the east on Kemp, across from Jacavanda Drive was the residence and gunshop of Sam E. Tobias, Inventor. Considered a genius by many, Sam was a chief consultant to Winchester, Remington, Colt, and Ithica fire arms companies as well as a personal acquaintance of Henry Ford. Sam was integral to the development of ballistics and was revered as one of the greatest gunsmiths around.
"Tobe", as Sam was known, reportedly worked on guns for Wild Bill Hickock and Annie Oakley as well as fashioning a gun for Henry Ford from the axle of a Model T! Death claimed Tobias on November 11, 1927 after he developed an infection following the removal of some teeth.
The Beavercreek Chronicles (pages 157-160) offers great insight into one of the area’s most humble heroes who often shared ideas with others that made THEM rich, for Sam truly believed that money was the root of all evil. Should you ever stumble upon a firearm stamped S.E. Tobias or a book entitled, Sam Tobias the Gunsmith by Gail Tobias Dorsey – buy them!
https://beavercreekliving.com/book/itemlist/tag/Tobias#sigProId81f834433f