7-01-2024 10:45pm

July Happenings At Warren County's Harmon Museum

Beth Callahan Editor

LEBANON, OH -- This year's Warren County History Camp, which runs from July 8th through the 11th from 9a.m. till noon, is all about William Elmer Harmon, namesake of the Harmon Museum.

Harmon, who was born here in Lebanon, has this museum and a city park named after him. "However, there is a lot more intriguing, and somewhat mysterious, aspects to this generous man who gave his hometown a park... one being he has over 100 Harmon Parks all across America named after him," states the Warren County Historical Society Website

The camp, which is designed for students entering fourth through eighth grades in the fall, will allow its participants to explore the Harmon Museum, the Lebanon Cemetery, and the city of Lebanon with Historian and Educational Director, John Zimkus and Assistant Director, Jeanne Doain.

According to the museums website /www.wchsmuseum.org/historycamp the campers will "attempt to uncover the answers to a dozen or more questions about Mr. Harmon."

Some of the questions they will explore will be

Why did he spend part of his youth in frontier forts in the wild American West?
Why is there a plaque dedicated to his mother in the Lebanon Public Library?
How did he become a millionaire?
How did his brother, Clifford, get the sixth airplane pilot's license ever issued?
Why are there well over 100 Harmon Parks across the United States?
Why is Harmon often singled out as the one individual who began a worldwide appreciation of African American art and artists?
How is he related to the Wright Brothers of early aviation fame?
Why was there once a bowling alley in the basement of the Harmon Museum?
How did his great-grandfather, Jedediah Tingle, start writing letters and giving gift to folks over 50 years after he had died?!?

Cost of the camp is $55 for members of the Warren County Historical Society and $75 for non members. For more information about the camp, please visit the museum's website here.

Other activities for the month of July

Learn about Frontier Life... and make some fun crafts for FREE on Saturday July 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Beedle Cabin, which is next to the Harmon Museum. "The Beedle Log Cabin is open every Saturday from 11-1pm and every 1st Saturday, for free, frontier fun craft days for kids! For more information visit https://www.wchsmuseum.org/saturdaysatbeedle.html