Ohio Amish

We pulled into the Amish Country of Ohio a little after 8:00 P.M. Most restaurants were closed, but we did find in Walnut Creek a pizza place. After gobbling the Italian pie, we checked into our motel - Zink's Lodging On The Square in Berlin. The Ohio Amish community is the largest Amish settlement in the world.

The next morning, we started our first full day by stopping first at Heini's Cheese factory.

John (Hans) Dauwalder, trained as a master cheesemaker in Switzerland, and came to the United States in the 1920's to display his artisan talents in a growing cheese market. After several successful years at the Bunker Hill Cheese Co-op, John decided to return to his hometown in Switzerland to further his romance with Lili Mueller. The two fell in love and were married in 1933.

In 1948, John and Lili, together with their two children, Peter and Marguerite, sold the family farm in Switzerland to join John's Brother Crist in the United States. Crist had purchased Bunker Hill Cheese in 1935 and asked John to join him in building the family cheese business.

In 1962, Peter and Nancy, who were married in 1955, acquired Bunker Hill Cheese (Heini's). Today it is one of the premier cheese retailers east of the Mississippi River, and one of the most successful wholesale manufacturers serving clients throughout North America.

Mom and Dad, when he was living, would love to sample the many varieties of cheese. Mom still celebrates this tradition.

I remember the first time we visited Heini's - Dad was so enchanted with the Moon Cheese!


Most of the cheese factories have windows where the patrons can see the cheese being crafted. Heni's is no exception.

Mom finally decided on a bag of the variety cheese pack plus smoked cheddar cheese for her and sister Judy.

Cheese is not the only food item one can purchase. The good wife had to bring home several samples of their homemade fudge.


Tomorrow - Another Cheese Factory!