Ladies and gentlemen, two of the landmarks in Hillsboro have reached their 175th anniversary this year – the Scott House and the Highland House. As a last-minute reminder, Highland County Pioneer Day is this Saturday, Aug. 24, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Scott House Mansion at 338 West Main Street in Hillsboro.

In December 1971, Jack Hope became a full-time consultant to the White House office of Science and Technology under the Nixon presidential administration. In February 1974, General Electric Corporation requested Hope’s return to GE in order to manage the GE portion of a collaborative project between the United States and France, known as the GEISNECMA CFM56.

Arthur Milner was a legislator, educator, farmer and longtime leader in church, civic and Masonic organizations. As a young man, he helped excavate the area for the then-new Leesburg school building and then participated in the groundbreaking for the present Fairfield school.

McClain High School graduate and local philanthropist Dr. Wilfred Konneker was born Feb. 20, 1922 and grew up in Greenfield, then earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Ohio University. Along with his wife, Ann, Dr. Konneker is the namesake of the Konneker Education Museum in Greenfield, which is operated by the Greenfield Historical Society.

Ladies and gentlemen, many years ago the Highland County Historical Society created the Highland County Hall of Fame to recognize, honor and celebrate those who have made invaluable contributions to the county and/or the world beyond. By honoring and recognizing these people, the Hall of Fame serves to stimulate an interest in – and appreciation for – the value of the history of this county and its citizens. Further, the Hall reinforces to our youths that they can, and should, strive for excellence in any endeavor they may undertake.

Ladies and gentlemen, in our colloquies about the life and times of longtime Hillsboro veterinary surgeon Dr. Samuel Rogers “S.R.” Howard (1861-1933), we discussed last time how his wife, Clara, passed away in 1894 at the age of 28 shortly after giving birth to their son, Joseph, and how Joseph survived World War I, but died in a railroad accident in May of 1920.

Ladies and gentlemen, in our colloquies about the life and times of Hillsboro veterinary surgeon Dr. Samuel Rogers “S.R.” Howard (1861-1933), we’ve talked about how he specialized in horse dentistry, saved some cows who ate dynamite and how the uptown office he leased came tumbling down in 1909.

Ladies and gentlemen, in last week’s blast from the past, the colloquy was on the time Hillsboro veterinary surgeon Dr. Samuel Rogers “S.R.” Howard saved three cows that had eaten dynamite in 1899. About a decade later, Doc Howard was credited for saving human lives when part of the oldest building in Hillsboro came tumbling down.

Well, there you have it, ladies and gentlemen, the cows that ate dynamite – and a crash course on how dynamite tastes and what it can do to humans and bovines.

Ladies and gentlemen, when I was working at the Highland House Museum a while back, I happened to meet a gentleman whose relative was a veterinary surgeon and dentist here in Hillsboro back in the late 1800s and early 1900s. That afternoon, I learned about Samuel Rogers “S.R.” Howard, who opened a veterinary business in uptown Hillsboro.

Ladies and gentlemen, in our last confabulation, the topic of conversation was of the Centennial Celebration of Highland Lodge No. 38 of Free and Accepted Masons, which was held Thursday and Friday, Oct. 4-5, 1917, not long after the Temple at the corner of North High Street and Beech Street in uptown Hillsboro had undergone a $30,000 makeover – which would equate to about $700,000 today.

The renovation was completed just in time for the Highland Lodge to hold its Centennial celebration on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 4-5, 1917. Speaking of celebrations, let’s mention one final time that there will be a 200th Reconsecration Ceremony on Saturday, May 4 from 9 a.m. until noon at the Temple. Any Mason who would like to attend the 200th Reconsecration Ceremony by the Grand Lodge of Ohio is welcome to attend. Now, let’s get back to 1917’s Centennial.

Ladies and gentlemen, in our last confabulation, we spoke of how the Freemasons of Highland Lodge No. 38 erected a Temple in the 1870s that still stands at the corner of North High Street and Beech Street in uptown Hillsboro. However, the venerable edifice doesn’t look quite the same as it did back when it was first built.

Ladies and gentlemen, as we examine 200 years of Freemasonry in Highland County, let’s take a look at the venerable Masonic Temple located on the corner of North High Street and Beech Street in uptown Hillsboro.

Ladies and gentlemen, in our confabulation last week, we spoke of the first meeting of Highland Lodge No. 38 of Free and Accepted Masons in 1817 and left off with how the Lodge nearly folded due to the great Anti-Masonic agitation that rose up in America less than a decade after the Lodge received its charter 200 years ago.