DELPHOS— Elmer Hoffman has been a steadfast volunteer at the Delphos Canal Commission Museum since 1991, before it was ever a museum. He was one of Father Chris Vasko’s early recruits, soon after the purchase of the Old Commercial Bank Building by the Canal Commission.
Hoffman was born in Putnam County, east of Delphos, near the Auglaize River, to Henry and Veronica (Siefker) Hoffman. He was one of four children. Later, the family lived in the country west of Delphos and he attended school at St. John’s.
Hoffman married Dorothy Bonifas in 1955 and they raised five children: Cathy (Bob) Ulm, Mike (Laura) Hoffman, Bill (Linda) Hoffman, Jim (Diane) Hoffman and Julie (Bob) Fish.
The Hoffmans reside at 649 E. Fourth St. in Delphos. Elmer was employed at the New Delphos Manufacturing Company for 47 years.
He was in on the ground floor of establishing the Delphos Canal Commission Museum, when there was plenty of dirty hard work to do like scraping floors and woodwork in the Old Commercial Bank Building before the Delphos Historical Association set up the museum on the second floor. He helped build the “log cabin” and the “hay mow” of the barn area. Much elbow grease was needed in those days to restore that old building.
After the DCC purchased the old Grant’s building from the Buettner family, he and Howard Metzger did all the interior painting of the large showroom. Now Elmer is often referred to as the maintenance superintendent.
Turning 80 has not slowed him down much. Recently, he has been instrumental in enlarging the basement display area of the museum. This includes the farm, industrial and railroad displays. He’s quite handy when it comes to building display cabinets, picture frames and other building projects.
He and his wife are strong in their belief that family always comes first. He enjoys helping the kids and working with wood. He likes to see the sawdust fly.
As a boy he enjoyed turtle hunting, frog hunting and fishing. They ate the fish that they caught in nearby rivers and creeks.
Hoffman enjoys antiques and flea markets. The couple have always loved to travel but now most of their travels are day trips and attending all the activities of their 10 grandchildren. They also enjoy eating out.