Musee de Venoge

08/19/2026

NO TAVERN IS COMPLETE...
……..Without The Parting Glass.
This past Sunday we filmed a special music video featuring Lance Minnis. For the last 20 years Lance has been performing this song, "The Parting Glass," at historic sites and music venues. His performance is poignant and heartfelt.

It has become a tradition at any gathering where convivial libations flow, and comrades gather, to end the evening with this song. You'll understand why when you hear it. Its lyrics, though simple, are relatable to all of us.

Our video was directed by Donna Weaver. Dakota Phillips served as AD and along with Donna operated the cameras. The video also features another familiar face whom you might recognize.

We will be releasing this music video as the "overture", as it were, to our final three episodes of Tales from the Tavern this fall. "Seems appropriate somehow." Stay tuned! “The Parting Glass” featuring Lance Minnis is in the editing stage.

Be sure and raise your glass with us by subscribing to our YouTube Channel. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvc-26hd38quVTGfivkHBgw

08/14/2026

THE REAL MCCOY!
There is nothing quite like handling actual historical artifacts. Especially when those artifacts directly relate to the Venoge Cottage. We have a special announcement about those artifacts.

Yesterday, Steve Abolt, and Donna Weaver journeyed to the Indiana Historical Society in Indianapolis. Housed within their collections are the original letters of Jacob Weaver. Spanning the years 1813 to 1848, these letters are a personal and in-depth look into the life of a man, and his family. They also detail life in early Indiana. Many of the stories contained in these letters were used in our full-length film, “To Make a Beginning” and our YouTube series, “Between the Lines”.

This October, thanks to the generosity of the Indiana Historical Society, some of these letters will be returning to Venoge and the very room in which they were written! On Saturday Oct 17, as part of our special program, "Heritage Day", celebrating the 250th Anniversary of Jacob Weaver’s Birthday, you will be able to actually view the original letters! You will also hear a lecture on their significance presented by Suzanne Hahn, Vice President of Archives and Libraries for the Indiana Historical Society. Suzanne has been generous with her time and knowledge making this exhibit possible.

We have a full day’s activities planned. All of it is free! Be sure and mark October 17 on your calendar and join us. Much of Venoge cottage is original. These letters are 100% original. They will be there. We hope you will as well!

08/07/2026

Paul Caudell at Venoge singing a tune from the 1700's in England. Quite a story, if true!

08/03/2026

STAND AND DELIVER!
Actually you can sit if you would rather and watch our newest video. Performed by Paul Caudell it is entitled "The Highwayman Outwitted".

It is taken from footage shot at our outdoor concert: "Along the Banks of the Ohio" Popular music of the Indiana frontier, which was held at Venoge on June 20. After looking at the footage from that night we saw a music video that needed to be made. In fact, we have several more in the works featuring performances from that evening.

Get ready now to take a journey down the dark and hazardous roads of old London. Be careful! Danger is lurking everywhere! Would you survive? Could you outwit the Highwayman? Watch and find out!

A dreaded fear of early travel were the bandits and murderers who l...

08/01/2026

WE FOUND IT IN THE CARGO HOLD!
Last month we all took a voyage down the Ohio River when we presented our outdoor concert. Titled: "Along the Banks of the Ohio" Popular music of the Indiana Frontier. Our evening explored and celebrated music of the late 18th and early 19th century.

The evening was so enjoyable we wanted to share parts of it with those of you who couldn't attend. Digging through our cargo hold.....we should say, all the footage we shot of the evening... we decided to create some music videos for your enjoyment. The first one will debut on Sunday evening. Make sure to join us. There are some great songs down in that hold!

Do you know what else we found? It's your personal invitation to subscribe to our channel! Here is the link. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvc-26hd38quVTGfivkHBgw

07/26/2026

Very nice piece about Venoge! Ninety percent of it is true ^^.

https://myfamilytravels.com/indianas-220-year-old-farmstead-feels-straight-out-of-a-storybook/?utm_source=ind&fbclid=IwY2xjawTSV-pwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMW12RmJjbDR0NnJSMTBIdHFzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeyte8B_4j1Ytthgjc6Aha7HlxfpTYZ8fxLpRNYaSBR-kS1rVev_xVBqw_zME_aem_Rulfbnqc7MoXLq4565nhTA

Step onto Indiana’s 220-year-old farmstead and feel like you’ve entered a storybook. Its timeless charm captivates every visitor.

07/03/2026

PROCLAIM YOUR LIBERTY!
We hope that among the many gatherings and social events you attend today that you will take the time to read the Declaration of Independence aloud. It is a document meant to be read aloud. If there is a public reading in your community please set aside the time to attend. If there isn't then you read it aloud to your family. The document is even more powerful that way.

Here is a brief excerpt from the Declaration as read by Steve Abolt. It was filmed at an event we held at Venoge in 2024. You can find his entire reading it in our Early Independence Day Fireside stream video. The reading can be found at 1:06 40 into the program. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL8w2homS7c

Keep the meaning and promise of this document always in your thoughts and actions. Remember also the tremendous responsibility you bear if you are to remain free.

We believe John Adams, in a letter to his wife Abigail, summarized the day better than anyone.

"You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.”
Happy Independence Day from all of us at Musee de Venoge

07/01/2026

Today is July 1st. One hundred and sixty three years ago the troopers of CO A, 3rd Indiana Cavalry were posted along a rail fence. Composed of men from Switzerland County they had been raised for service back in 1861. On this hot July day, having fought at places like, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, these veterans knew what was marching towards them.
To their left and front they could make out a dusty column moving east along the Chambersburg Pike. Company A's position was just west of the small town called Gettysburg, PA.
One of those troopers was Pvt. John Edward Weaver. He was 22 years old. By the end of the day he would vie with two others for a dubious distinction.
If the name sounds familiar, it should. John was the grandson of Jacob and Charlotte Weaver the first owners of Venoge. He was the son of their oldest son, John.
One of the most fascinating things we have experienced while working on our film, "To Make A Beginning" are the many unknown and interesting connecting facts we seem to keep uncovering. We owe a special thanks to Mr. Richard Moss. He has been sending us all kinds of genealogical data on the Weaver family. It was he who discovered John E. Weaver and his presence at Gettysburg 163 years ago today.
All of these incredible details we have been discovering have shed new light on the Weavers, Venoge, and Switzerland County. One fact was that dubious distinction John E. Weaver could claim.
He is believed to be the first Federal soldier wounded in the actual three-day battle. Two men from the Illinois Cavalry Regiments also have laid claim to that title. All three of those men most assuredly did not seek that distinction.
John never made it back to Vevay and Switzerland County. After having his leg amputated he lingered until August 3. On that day he finally succumbed to infection at the large Union Field Hospital called Camp Letterman. Today he, along with 79 other Hoosiers, rest in the Gettysburg National Cemetery.
Sometimes there is so much more to an old house. There are stories yet to be told.
As we approach Independence Day we remember John Weaver and his sacrifice. Lest we forget.

06/26/2026

THE FLATBOATS HAVE HEADED DOWN RIVER!
However, the memories of a magical evening will long remain. This past Saturday Musee de Venoge sponsored “Along the Banks of the Ohio” Music of the Indiana Frontier. Our patrons were able to travel down the river without actually leaving their seats. The evening was hosted by Michael Thomson who, along with our musicians, The Traveling Caudells, Adin Pemberton and Michael Kruse, provided an historical timeline told in song, stories and reminiscences.

One of the highlights of the evening was a special performance of Daniel Webster’s Independence Day oration. The incomparable Ryan Vallo brought Webster’s vision of America to life in a stirring and animated delivery.

Plus, there were plenty of historic libations served by our two tavern keepers “Himself” and Capt. Vincent Dufour, in the Hayloft Tavern. This was an evening to remember. For those who were there that can’t remember, maybe you shouldn’t have had that extra glass of orange shrub.

If you couldn’t attend, please enjoy these special photos. This program would not have been possible without Donna Weaver and our Musee de Venoge board of directors: Laura Willyard, Michael Thompson, Michael Kruse, Erica Coulter, Dana Gagnon and Hannah Summers.

We’d like to extend a very special thanks to Dakota Phillips and Deena Shaffer. Whenever anything needed to be done, these two went above and beyond the call. Though not in the public eye, our program would not have been possible with out them.

06/20/2026