FIRST QUARTER 2026 - HARMONY HILL HAPPENINGS

2026 has already brought some significant changes to the landscape in Williamsburg. The 1923 school building, which once stood proudly on the public square, has been razed to make way for a new elementary school. Williamsburg’s Clermont County Courthouse and Jail were the first buildings located on the site. After the county seat was moved, first to New Richmond, and then to Batavia, those buildings were removed to create space for the first school building on the site which consisted of eight rooms. It was constructed in 1860, and it stood until it was destroyed by fire in 1922. The more recent building was finished in September of 1923; nineteen rooms made up its three-story structure with a gymnasium on the second floor. Additions were made through the years, and it served our community well until the number of students in the district increased substantially, and the crowded rooms gave way to the construction of a new elementary building. The first classes in that building were held in 1955; it consisted of fourteen classrooms, offices, a kitchen and a multi-purpose room. An eight-room wing was added and ready for occupation in 1958, and as enrollment approached 1400 students, another seven-room wing was erected, along with a library, music room, small multi-purpose room and enlarged kitchen. Yet another construction was added to accommodate pre-school classrooms. In 1997, the new Middle/High School was completed, and grades six through twelve moved from the public square school building to their new home on the southern end of Fifth Street.

Groundbreaking for the new elementary building will take place on April 2 at 1:00 P.M. During the ceremony, the time capsule from the 1923 Cornerstone will be opened. An incredible amount of in-depth planning has taken place over the last couple of years. Administrators have involved numerous citizens and community groups in forming the vision for a creative educational space which will motivate students and enrich their learning experiences. Harmony Hill historians have been asked for their help with ideas which will help students better visualize the history of their village. We board members are excited to be included in this important venture.

Although we are still experiencing winter temperatures mixed with those of spring, June will soon be here, and Williamsburg will celebrate America-250 as part of June in Olde Williamsburgh from June 18-21st. Due to the construction site on the public square, this year’s events will take place in the Community Park and on Main Street. The event will open with a parade at 6 P.M. on Thursday. On Friday, there will be live entertainment from 6 to 10 as well as food trucks, Vendor Booths and the American Legion Beer Garden. Saturday’s events begin with a “Color Run” from 8 to 9 A.M., followed by a 10:30 vintage baseball game with the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings vs Cincinnati Buckeyes. There will be food trucks, Vendor Booths, live entertainment, and a Williamsburg’s Historic Places tour conducted by Harmony Hill. There will also be events for children from 1-3, and Clermont County Library events. From 3-10:30 there will be live music and entertainment, and from 8:30-9:30 Rozzi’s Fireworks will be the breath-taking main feature. On Sunday, at noon, all the bells in Clermont County, including the Cain Run School House bell at Harmony Hill, will ring for 3 minutes to officially recognize our country’s 250 th birthday. Following that, Mayor Weaver and the town Council Members will be the grill masters for the Picnic in the Park. Area church members will provide side dishes and desserts. Following the meal, there will be old-fashioned contests such as Sack/Three-Legged Races, Puzzles, History Trivia, Musical Chairs and more. Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate in this monumental celebration! If you are interested in donating food for the June 21st picnic or prizes for the games, please contact lizbetemps@gmail.com.

We have been informed that the Clermont County Convention and Visitors Bureau was notified and commended for the fact that Clermont County is doing more to celebrate America-250 than any other place in the State of Ohio or in the entire United States! We also celebrate Williamsburg’s 230 th birthday in 2026! The Clermont County Museum Passports, another America-250 project, have been a big hit for all the county museums. The Convention and Visitors Bureau has just ordered 10,000 additional copies. Visitors are invited to obtain one free at any of the fourteen county museums, then take them as they visit each museum and get their passport stamped at each one. Future dates on which the museums will open on County-wide Museum Days are: July 11 and September 19 from 10-4. September 19 th will also be the date on which Harmony Hill will celebrate Major Gen.William Lytle’s 256th birthday, and this year we will be “pulling out all the stops!” Stay tuned (Second Quarter newsletter) for additional information about that upcoming event. You can also visit our website www.harmonyhillmuseum.com any time for current and future news.

Harmony Hill will be training new docents and volunteers on Saturday, April 11th at 10 AM. If you are interested please join us. We are thrilled to welcome a group of new volunteer docents who will be present on museum days. We welcome Autumn and Melissa Bielfelt, Jenny Brandt Gast, Lisa Gonzalez, Rose Harris, Shannon and Betty Haynes, Kara Kendle, Mary Ann Lefker, Madisyn Sampson and Sharon Wood. We also recognize Tom Barth who has been serving for several years in this capacity with his grandfather, Kenny Craig (Harmony Hill Board Member).

The historic home of Charles Boerstler Huber was placed up for auction with an uncertain future earlier this year. Huber was the first Stationmaster of the Underground Railroad in Williamsburg and the village’s first mayor. He and his next-door neighbor, Dr. Leavitt Thaxter Pease and his wife Nancy had an actual underground tunnel dug which connected the two homes during the mid-1800’s when fugitives were seeking freedom from slavery. That tunnel made it possible to transfer fugitives easily from one home to the other. Marcus Sims and Samuel Peterson were two other known helpers or “conductors.” Huber and Pease have been credited with assisting over 500 freedom seekers; on one night alone, seventeen fugitives were said to have stayed at the Huber home.The home has now been purchased, and the new owner plans to have it restored and perhaps eventually open it to the public on occasion. Harmony Hill Board Members are always excited when our rich history is being preserved for future generations!

Thanks to Bob Santel for donating his electrical skills and some new light fixtures to brighten our basement! He made some much-needed major wiring updates in our building, and we truly appreciate his time, expertise and donation of materials!

As families plan reunions and numerous other summer celebrations, please remember that the Harmony Hill Pavilion is the perfect place to host a private gathering. It is available to rent with picnic tables and a shelter. There is usually a breeze blowing, and it is a beautiful secluded spot. For more details, you can call Julie Hess at (513) 907-9748 or at juliescraps@aol.com.

Memberships and donations to the Harmony Hill Association are tax deductible. If you wish to become a member or make a donation, CLICK HERE. We will send a receipt for your tax records.

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