Highland County Historical Society celebrates 50th anniversary

The Highland County Historical Society welcomed the community during its 50th anniversary celebration on Wednesday, May 20 at the Highland House Museum.

Board Chair Pamela Nickell welcome guests and introduced past and present Society board members and officers.

Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss and Highland County Historical Society founding member Robert Hodson were guest speakers.

Highland House Director Vicki Knauff read proclamations in recognition of the Society's 50th anniversary.


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History of the Highland County Historical Society and Highland House
Courtesy of the Highland County Historical Society
 

While Highland County was formed in 1805, the Highland County Historical Society is much younger. The idea of local history and artifacts being lost or removed from the county disturbed Robert A. Hodson. Some families were doing a good job of preserving their family’s history and heirlooms, but others were not or had no family left. Virginia Bell Thompson, President of the C.S. Bell Company, joined Bob in this concern, and they began meeting to search for solution.

On May 20, 1965, a meeting was held to discuss the possibility of organizing a historical society. Those attending the meeting were Robert Hodson, who chaired the meeting; Mary Jean Tennehill; Charles Harsha; Ms. Violet Morgan; Mrs. Granville Barrere; Mr. and Mrs. R.E. Evans; Mrs. Louis deCazenova; C.M. Lacy; Mr. and Mrs. John (Virginia) Thompson; Robert Yacubian; Mrs. Elsie Ayres; Mrs. Hazel Frost; Ms. Mary Teter; Dr. N. James Bodenhamer; and Mrs. Robert (Dorothy) Hodson, who served as acting secretary.

Articles of Incorporation and Code of Regulations were adopted with 15 persons to be named to the first board of trustees. These trustees were John Thompson, Ms. Violet Morgan, Mrs. Elsie Ayres, Judge Darrell Hottle, Mrs. Granville Barrere, T.J. Belleson, J. Harold McKenzie, Mrs. R.E. Evans, Stanley Kibler, Charles Harsha, Worth Faust and Robert A. Hodson. Added later, to assure all areas of the county were represented, were Fred Keeler, Maurice Jodry and Ms. Ruth Carlisle. Mr. Fred Keeler was elected first president of the society.

Early fundraising activities included memberships, which were set at $5 per family or $3 per individual. The first big project was a tour of Hillsboro homes, which resulted in a net profit of $679.45. A second project was an A-Z auction that provided an additional $887.85.

From the beginning, thoughts centered on acquiring Highland House as a museum home. In a resolution adopted on Jan. 26, 1966, authority was given to purchase the building for up to $18,000 from The First National Bank of Cincinnati, executor of the estate of Helen Boyd. The first meeting at the newly acquired building was held May 26, 1966. Improvements, restoration and repairs began and continue to this day.