July, 2026

WILLIAMSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

April 2, 2026, we witnessed the groundbreaking for the new Williamsburg Elementary School and the opening of the 1923 time-capsule from the cornerstone of the recently demolished building. School Board President, Jeff Cummins invited Lucy Snell and Julia Hess, past and present Harmony Hill presidents, to assist with the opening of the time capsule. All the elementary students in attendance participated in the groundbreaking by turning over a small garden trowel of dirt. The following week, Harmony Hill members helped open envelopes with items that were in the time capsule, laying them out on tables at the Middle/High School for anyone who was interested to view them. Afterwards, we provided acid-free photo-safe sleeves in which those artifacts could be safely preserved for the future.

Harmony Hill board members are currently involved with creating some of the history-related features that will be a permanent part of the new school. We have suggested people and events that should be included in Williamsburg’s story, and we are providing photos and text to illustrate our rich history. We look forward to seeing our ideas become reality in that new facility!

DONATIONS

Arch Materials donated two loads of much-needed gravel for the driveway at Harmony Hill. Bari Henning hauled and spread it for us, and Mayor Weaver brought his own tractor and blade and smoothed it. We truly appreciate you gentlemen for your generosity with your time and equipment! We are equally blessed by the generosity of the Arch Materials Company. Thanks so very much to all of you!

Thanks to the Clermont County Park District for donating an America-250 Swamp Oak tree to Harmony Hill.

Thanks, also, to Jay Betemps who planted it for us. We will dedicate it at the September 19 th celebration of Maj. Gen. William Lytle’s 256th birthday.

The Boy Scouts of Williamsburg’s Troop #84 mulched for us in May again this year. We are grateful to them for their continued help with this annual project! Thanks to the Williamsburg Garden Club for buying the mulch!

We are happy to have Scout groups meet at Harmony Hill where they can utilize the campfire circle, an Eagle Scout project by Tom Barth. Our museum campus is a great space for working on badges for both girls and boys in our area’s Scout Troops.

NEW QR CODE

Harmony Hill now has a QR Code which visitors can access in order to make a donation to Harmony Hill.Thanks to our treasurer, Beth Barth for creating this as an alternative to using cash or a credit card.

(Memberships must still be paid for by check or cash.)

PIONEER DAY

May 4 th was Pioneer Day for Williamsburg’s third grade students. They visited all the educational stations we provide for them so they can experience some of the lifestyle jobs that were an integral part of everyday pioneer life. We thank our adult Harmony Hill volunteers for their assistance in making the experience a success! One parent commented that her child came home with the evaluation, “Best Field Trip Ever!” We were delighted to hear that.

ESSAY CONTEST

Harmony Hill sponsored an essay contest for Williamsburg students in grades 6-12. The subject was “What America Means to Me,” in conjunction with America-250. We presented a sixth-grade student with a certificate and check for $100 for her essay, and a freshman with a certificate and a check for $150 for her essay. (Names are withheld due to privacy issues.) Congratulations!

WILLIAMSBURG CELEBRATES

Williamsburg’s big America-250 Celebration was officially held during “June in Olde Williamsburgh” from June 18th through June 20th . Harmony Hill participated in the parade with a float featuring our mannequin of Gen. William Lytle standing at his surveying compass and tripod. Gary Nichols dressed as a pioneer surveyor (instead of in his contemporary surveying clothing), Rose Coors posed as Betsy Ross with her 13-star flag, and Lucy Snell sat at a spinning wheel (made by the late Earl Pringle) - all representing Harmony Hill Museum and Williamsburg history. Thanks to Danny and Martha Watters for providing the truck and wagon for our float! We also had a booth at the Williamsburg Park where we offered various items for sale (donations) during Saturday afternoon. On Saturday night, the event was brought to a climax with an amazing pyrotechnic display by “Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks.” It was all a great tribute to our country’s 250th birthday and Williamsburg’s 230th. On Sunday, the 21st, the village finished the celebration in style with a picnic in the park.

CLERMONT COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MOVES

When CCHS members began doing some minor remodeling and painting, they discovered some issues which made remediation necessary. In order to accomplish that remediation, it was necessary to remove everything from their first-floor space. During this major moving, the CCHS was offered a permanent place in the village office building in Batavia. We will miss them at Harmony Hill, but this move will allow more display and storage areas for both groups, so it does have a “silver lining.” You can now find them at 65 N. Second Street, Batavia in the old Armory.

COUNTY-WIDE MUSEUM DAYS

Two more county-wide museum days are scheduled for 2026. Museums (most) will be open and free from 10-4 on Saturday, July 11 and Saturday, September 19.

ANNUAL LYTLE BIRTHDAY PARTY – SAVE THE DATE!

How can we recognize and thank our Harmony Hill Members? This September 19 th from 10-4, we encourage our members to come to Harmony Hill and be treated to some special events as we celebrate Gen. William Lytle’s 256 th birthday. View some new exhibits in the Land Office and expanded museum space. Experience some of the interactive educational stations that our third-grade students visit on Pioneer Day each year. We will dedicate our America-250 tree, and we will see and hear some Native American Reenactors. From 2:30-3:30, the Williamsburg Community Band will perform some of our country’s best-loved patriotic music as they present their “Salute to America-250” concert in the pavilion. Our traditional cookies, ice cream and punch will be available for everyone after the concert. Bring a comfortable lawn chair and be prepared to learn something new and enjoy a fun, relaxing day at the museum. In the likely event that the weather is extremely warm, you may also want to bring umbrellas for shade, sunglasses and hats or visors. We truly hope you can join us so we can thank you for your support!

OUR REVOLUTIONARY WAR HEROES

As we celebrate our nation’s 250 th birthday, it is altogether fitting that we should pause to recognize the eleven Revolutionary Soldiers who are interred in the Williamsburg Township Cemetery. Some named below are known to have served together as “Minutemen” and came here to claim land as payment for their service. The following eleven men were commemorated on Patriot’s Day, April 19, 2015, at the Williamsburg Township Cemetery where a new monument was erected in their honor by the Sons of the American Revolution: Joseph Ball, Adam Bricker, Ramoth Bunton, Samuel Burnett, Thomas Foster, Jacob Fry, John Huber, James Kain, Jr., Moses Leonard, John Lytle and Absolom Smith. Kain, Bunton, Bricker and John Lytle (William’s brother), are known to have worked with our founder, William Lytle – either on his surveying crew or in other early activities which culminated in the formation of the Village of Williamsburgh. Many of our 21 st century families can trace their roots back to the men named above or other who served but are buried in other nearby cemeteries. Are you one of those families?

MEMBERSHIPS in the Williamsburg Harmony Hill Association are tax deductible. To join, simply fill out the following application and send to: Williamsburg Harmony Hill Assoc., %Beth Barth, 3905 Elston Hockstock Rd., Batavia, OH 45103. We will send you a receipt for tax purposes. Checks should be made payable to Williamsburg Harmony Hill Assoc., Inc. Thank you for valuing the rich history of our village and township. Annual memberships are effective from January 1- December 31. 

Please check one of the following:

____ Lifetime Family Membership-$100 ___ Annual Family Membership-$24 ___ Annual Single Adult-$12

___ Annual Student (K-12) - $3 ____ Donation ($______________)

NAME: _______________________________________ Email:________________________________________

PHONE: __________________________ STREET ADDRESS:_________________________________________

CITY: _____________________________ STATE: __________________ ZIP:___________________________

AMOUNT ENCLOSED: $_________________

Visit the Williamsburg Harmony Hill Museum Campus the first Saturday of each month (except

July 4, 2026) from 1-4. Two more county-wide museum days are scheduled for July 11 and

September 19; times on those dates run from 10-4.

Williamsburg Harmony Hill Museum, 299 South Third Street, Williamsburg, OH 45176

Liz Betemps

lizbetemps@gmail.com