(2-11-26) A joint project of the America 250! Committee in Van Wert, OH, the Van Wert Historical Society, Van Wert County Commissioners, Brumback Library, and the Isaac Van Wart Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution with about a year in the works, finally came to fruition at a “Reveal Party” on Monday, November 24, 2025.

Donors Thad Lichtenstieger, commissioner, his wife, Deb and mother Janice Lichtensteiger hosted the party after securing the scanning of the
bronze busts of the trio of heroes: Isaac Van Wart, John Paulding and David Williams. The real bronze busts are housed in the John Henri Isaac Browere collection at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown,NY.

3D printing of each head was completed this Fall by Royce 3D Scanning (Zachery Rider, engineer and director of scanning services). Each head took eight days to print and were done in two parts.

The “Reveal Party” display included a plaque which read:

“Reproductions of the busts of Isaac Van Wart, John Paulding and David Williams; Inspired by the Isaac Van Wart Chapter of the DAR; Funded by Jan, Deb and Thad Lichtensteiger; Courtesy of the Fenimore
Art Museum, Cooperstown, NY and the John Henri Browere Collection.”

The IVW DAR member, Sheila Baltzell-Linn located the bronze bust while researching the Internet for information and photos of Isaac Van Wart, whom the county of Van Wert and the city of Van Wert, were named after the Revolutionary War. It was a reward for bravery. Each man received the Fidelity Medal of Honor from then General George Washington (later to become the first president).

Baltzell-Linn had been working on the chapter’s website and Facebook page designing when she found pictures of the heroes’ actions during the War.

She launched a push for the DAR to bring the bust back to Van Wert. Due to the high cost of this project, it was turned over to the joint group mentioned above, headed by Thad Lichtensteiger, who worked tirelessly to bring all three busts to Van Wert County Ohio. The busts can be seen at the
Van Wert Historical Museum annex at 135 E. Main Street, Van Wert, OH, next to the Bistro Restaurant.

Visitors are welcome to view the display as well as the Native American Exhibit of paintings and
memorabilia by renowned artist David Humphries Miller.