Head priest Theobald Buddeus (1816-1903) was a highly esteemed personality who was greatly revered by the population. Among other things, the Zella town chronicle, the first and second parts of which were published in 1881 and 1896, can be traced back to him. On June 5, 1906, a monument was unveiled next to the church of Zella St. Blasii in honor of him and his life's work. It is a large rough rock with a medallion engraved in copper by the drawing teacher Schlüter. The area in front of the monument has been regularly maintained by the town of Zella-Mehlis ever since. Another memorial stone in the old Zella cemetery commemorates Theobald Buddeus.