Page 10A THE BEACON June 2018
Harrison History- The Good , The Bad , and the ... Interesting
By Nicole Williams Terry E . Viel has been referred to by local residents as , “ The gatekeeper of all things Harrison .” This author has written over one hundred fifty articles for the local newspaper and has published a book about the history of Harrison , Ohio . He is an active member of the Harrison Village Historical Society and a collector of old photos and artifacts from the area . If you are lucky enough to find yourself in conversation with the Harrison High School graduate , you will be quickly immersed in the history of the forever changing buildings and generations that are still very present today .
Mr . Viel had no original intentions of becoming an author but instead went to school for engineering . After retiring as a Senior Engineer in 2009 from General Electric , he took up writing as a “ retirement hobby .” He started with writing historical articles for the Harrison Press . Much of his work is known for the humorous spin he adds to true stories . His weekly work received such positive feedback that he was encouraged to collect these stories into a book . “ Short Stories of Harrison , Ohio ” is a collection of over seventy short stories of events , people and happenings from the past . It was published in 2017 and became very successful . Reviews noted it for its “ down home ” flavor .
“ The Lady in the Box ” was one of the short stories I personally was amazed by . After reading it , I had to get in my car and drive into town to see it with my own eyes . On the intersection of Park and North Walnut sits the large boxy structure people might consider just an awkward building . But as Mr . Viel writes : “ Unless you are a real Harrison old timer , you are unmindful to what secret she holds .” Incased in the brick resides a once beautiful Victorian period mansion that belonged to a Distillery mogul during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century . The Dair Mansion grew into disrepair and was sold in the 1950 ’ s . It was converted into a multi-unit apartment facility and is literally boxed in with extensions being added to the front and sides . The new exterior provided room for plumbing . Some of the features , columns , arches and stairwell are still visible today . Many local residents stroll past the building today without having a clue about what it once was .
Of all the characters from the past , Mr . Viel considers Lester T . Culp one of his favorite . Mr Viel likens him to the famous Ernest T . Bass from the Andy Griffith Show . Lester T . resided outside of town up on the New Biddinger Hill with his six beloved German Shepherds . The hermit was known to come into town dressed in sporting overalls and a long grey beard . He spoke in a distinct voice as he would mosey around town conducting business , even though he was not typically employed on a fulltime basis . His early 1950 ’ s Chevy was his chosen mode
The current apartment buildings that encase the once-breathtaking Dair Mansion .
Local author Terry E . Viel continues to share and record Harrison ’ s history .
of transportation , and it was equipped with extra lights and turn signals to ensure that everyone could see him coming and going .
Terry Viel also works with the Harrison Village Historical Society . Established in 1962 , the society is a group of like-minded people who wish to maintain and preserve the history of the area . Terry Becker is the current president of the group of around fifty active members . The Society now runs the Harrison Historical Society Museum , which is located at 115 North
The formally elegant Victorian Mansion owned by James Dair is located in downtown , Harrison .
Walnut Street in downtown , Harrison . The museum is open the second and fourth Thursdays from 1-3 p . m . every month . Admission is free and walking tours of Harrison are now being offered .
The artifacts at the museum are always being changed out . Civil War cannon balls found right here in Harrison are currently on display . Everything from pottery to pictures are displayed and the society members are eager to share their knowledge . To be able to learn about such priceless history and then step right outside the museum door and see it in such a tangible way is just fascinating ! The experience truly makes you appreciate the town on a whole different level .
If you are eager to learn more about a Harrison
The Harrison Village Historical Museum is filled with stories and artifacts of the past .
woman who broke “ the glass ceiling ,” or the Harrison Tornado of 1854 , or the once fully-functioning streetcar , pick up a copy of Mr . Viel ’ s book . The recounted stories are captivating !
TOPSOIL ( Regular and Shredded )
7247 State Road 46E Batesville , IN 47006 812.932.3300
FILL DIRT GRAVEL
SPECIALIZED HAULING & DELIVERY
East Central High School ’ s Marching Trojans participated in Washington , DC ’ s National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade
EC Marching Band Takes National Stage
East Central High School ’ s Marching Trojans participated in Washington , DC ’ s National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade on April 14 . One hundred students participated in the parade and educational trip .
Besides marching in the parade , students visited many landmarks and museums , including : Arlington National Cemetery , Pentagon 9 / 11 Memorial , National Archives , The White House , Capitol Building , Mount Vernon ,
National Portrait Gallery , Ford ’ s Theater , Smithsonian Museums , the Jefferson , Lincoln , and Martin Luther King Jr . Memorials , as well as the World War II , Korean and Vietnam War Memorials .
ECHS ’ prom was inadvertently scheduled the same day as the parade , so the EC Band Boosters and a student committee improvised . They threw a “ Band Prom ” at their hotel in DC . Students dressed up , danced the night away ,
and enjoyed marching band show themed decor and party favors .
Parent chaperone Tammy Garcia said , “ I was thrilled to shake the hands of WWII veterans and thank them for their service . But my favorite part was our kids . Watching them go from having a blast at Band Prom to getting serious and representing our community in the parade was an experience I will not soon forget .”
NICOLE & JOHN WUESTEFELD
A Family Tradition Since 1800 ’ s QUALITY SERVICE • COMPASSION • DEDICATION
25615 STATE ROUTE 1 • DOVER , IN
( 812 ) 576-4301 WWW . ANDRES-WUESTEFELDFH . COM
IF YOU LIKE THE BEACON … PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS , AND TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR ADS IN THE BEACON . THANK YOU !
Page 10A
THE BEACON
June 2018
Harrison History- The Good, The Bad, and the... Interesting
By Nicole Williams
Terry E. Viel has been
referred to by local residents
as, “The gatekeeper of all
things Harrison.” This author
has written over one hundred
fifty articles for the local
newspaper and has published
a book about the history of
Harrison, Ohio. He is an ac-
tive member of the Harrison
Village Historical Society
and a collector of old photos
and artifacts from the area. If
you are lucky enough to find
yourself in conversation with
the Harrison High School
graduate, you will be quickly
immersed in the history of the
forever changing buildings
and generations that are still
very present today.
Mr. Viel had no original
intentions of becoming an
author but instead went to
school for engineering. gFW �&WF�&��r26V��"V�v�Ц�VW"��#�g&��vV�W&��V�V7G&�2��RF���Ww&�F��p�2( �&WF�&V�V�B��&'��( ��P�7F'FVBv�F�w&�F��r��7F�&�Ц6�'F�6�W2f�"F�R�'&�6��&W72��V6��b��2v�&��0����v�f�"F�R�V��&�W27�আRFG2F�G'VR7F�&�W2���0�vVV�ǒv�&�&V6V�fVB7V6���6�F�fRfVVF&6�F�B�Rv0�V�6�W&vVBF�6���V7BF�W6P�7F�&�W2��F�&����( �6��'@�7F�&�W2�b�'&�6�������( ��0�6���V7F����b�fW"6WfV�G��6��'B7F�&�W2�bWfV�G2�V��P��B�V��w2g&��F�R7BगBv2V&Ɨ6�VB��#r�@�&V6�RfW'�7V66W76gV��&RЧf�Ww2��FVB�Bf�"�G2( �F�vআ��^( �f�f�"�( �F�R�G���F�R&��( Чv2��R�bF�R6��'B7F�&�W0��W'6���ǒv2��VB'��gFW"&VF��r�B���BF�vW@���ג6"�BG&�fR��F�F�v�F�6VR�Bv�F�ג�v�W�W2���F�R��FW'6V7F����b&���B��'F�v��WB6�G2F�P��&vR&���7G'V7GW&RV��P�֖v�B6��6�FW"�W7B�v�Чv&B'V��F��r�'WB2�"�f�V��w&�FW3�( �V��W72��R&R�&V��'&�6����BF��W"���P�&RV�֖�FgV�F�v�B6V7&W@�6�R���G2�( ���66VB��F�P�'&�6�&W6�FW2��6R&VWF�gV��f�7F�&��W&��B��6���F�@�&V���vVBF�F�7F���W'���ЦwV�GW&��rF�R�FR��WFVV�F���BV&ǒGvV�F�WF�6V�GW'��F�RF�"��6���w&Wr��F�F�7&W�"�Bv26��B��F�P��S( �2��Bv26��fW'FVB��F��V�F��V�B'F�V�Bf6��Ц�G��B�2ƗFW&�ǒ&��VB��v�F�W�FV�6���2&V��rFFV@�F�F�Rg&��B�B6�FW2�F�P��WrW�FW&��"&�f�FVB&��Цf�"�V�&��r�6��R�bF�P�fVGW&W2�6��V��2�&6�W0��B7F�'vV��&R7F���f�6�&�P�F�F������6�&W6�FV�G0�7G&���7BF�R'V��F��rF�F��v�F��WB�f��r6�VR&�W@�v�B�B��6Rv2��b��F�R6�&7FW'2g&�ЧF�R7B��"�f�V�6��6�BЦW'2�W7FW"B�7V���R�b��0�ff�&�FR��"f�V�Ɩ�V�2��ЧF�F�Rf��W2W&�W7BB�&70�g&��F�R�G�w&�ff�F�6��r��W7FW"B�&W6�FVB�WG6�FR�`�F�v�W��F�R�Wr&�FF��rЦW"����v�F���26��&V��fV@�vW&��6�W�W&G2�F�P��W&֗Bv2���v�F�6��P���F�F�v�G&W76VB��7�'BЦ��r�fW&��2�B���rw&W��&V&B��R7��R��F�7F��7@�f��6R2�Rv�V�B��6W��&�V�BF�v�6��GV7F��r'W6�Ц�W72�WfV�F��Vv��Rv2��@�G��6�ǒV����VB��gV��ЧF��R&6�2���2V&ǒ�S( �0�6�Wg�v2��26��6V���FP�F�R7W'&V�B'F�V�@�'V��F��w2F�BV�66RF�P���6R�'&VF�F���rF� ���6����F�Rf�&��ǒV�Vv�Bf�7F�&����6����v�VB'���W0�F�"�2��6FVB��F�v�F�v���'&�6�����6�WF��"FW''�R�f�V��6��F��VW2F�6�&R�@�&V6�&B�'&�6��( �2��7F�'���bG&�7�'FF�����B�Bv0�WV�VBv�F�W�G&Ɩv�G2�@�GW&�6�v��2F�V�7W&RF�BWbЦW'���R6�V�B6VR���6�֖�p��Bv���r�FW''�f�V��6�v�&�2v�F��F�R�'&�6��f���vR��2ЧF�&�6�6�6�WG��W7F&Ɨ6�VB���c"�F�R6�6�WG��2w&�W ��bƖ�R�֖�FVBV��Rv��v�6�F����F���B&W6W'fP�F�R��7F�'��bF�R&V�FW''��&V6�W"�2F�R7W'&V�B&W6�ЦFV�B�bF�Rw&�W�b&�V�@�f�gG�7F�fR�V�&W'2�F�R6�Ц6�WG���r'V�2F�R�'&�6�आ�7F�&�6�6�6�WG��W6WV���v��6��2��6FVBBR��'F��v��WB7G&VWB��F�v�F�v����'&�6���F�R�W6WV��0��V�F�R6V6��B�Bf�W'F��F�W'6F�2g&���2���WbЦW'����F��F֗76����2g&VP��Bvƶ��rF�W'2�b�'&�6��&R��r&V��r�ffW&VB�F�R'F�f7G2BF�R�W6WVЦ&R�v�2&V��r6��vVB�WB�6�f��v"6����&��2f�V�@�&�v�B�W&R���'&�6��&P�7W'&V�Fǒ��F�7���WfW'�ЧF���rg&���GFW'�F��7GW&W0�&RF�7��VB�BF�R6�6�WG���V�&W'2&RVvW"F�6�&P�F�V�"���v�VFvR�F�&R&�P�F��V&�&�WB7V6�&�6V�W70���7F�'��BF�V�7FW&�v�@��WG6�FRF�R�W6WV�F�� ��B6VR�B��7V6�F�v�&�P�v��2�W7Bf66��F��rF�P�W�W&�V�6RG'Vǒ��W2��P�&V6�FRF�RF�v����v���RF�ffW&V�B�WfV�खb��R&RVvW"F��V&���&R&�WB�'&�6��F�R�'&�6��f���vR��2ЧF�&�6��W6WV��2f���VBv�F��7F�&�W2�B'F�f7G2�bF�P�7B�v���v��'&��R( �F�Rv�70�6V�Ɩ�r�( ��"F�R�'&�6��F�&�F��b�SB��"F�R��6P�gV�ǒ�gV�7F����r7G&VWF6"���6�W6���b�"�f�V�( �0�&����F�R&V6�V�FVB7F�&�W0�&R6F�fF��r�D�4�����&VwV�"�B6�&VFFVB��s#Cr7FFR&�BCdRd���D�%@�&FW7f���R���Csbu$dT���"�3"�33 �5T4�ĕ�TB�TĔ�p�bDTĕdU%��V7B6V�G&���v�66����( �2�&6���rG&���2'F�6�FVB��v6���wF���D>( �2�F�����6�W''�&��76��fW7F�f�&FP�T2�&6���r&�BF�W2�F����7FvP�V7B6V�G&���v�66����( �0��&6���rG&���2'F�6�FV@���v6���wF���D>( �2�F�����6�W''�&��76��fW7F�f�Ч&FR��&��B���R�V�G&V@�7GVFV�G2'F�6�FVB��F�P�&FR�BVGV6F����G&��&W6�FW2�&6���r��F�P�&FR�7GVFV�G2f�6�FVB�琦��F�&�2�B�W6WV�2����6�VF��s�&Ɩ�wF���F�����6V�WFW'��V�Fv������V��&����F����&6��fW2��F�Rv��FR��W6R�6�F���'V��F��r���V�BfW&������F�����'G&�Bv��W'���f�&N( �2F�VFW"�6֗F�6��Ц���W6WV�2�F�R�VffW'6����Ɩ�6�����B�'F���WF�W ����r�"��V��&��2�2vV��0�F�Rv�&�Bv"�����&V��@�f�WF��v"�V��&��2�T4�>( �&��v2��GfW"ЧFV�Fǒ66�VGV�VBF�R6�P�F�2F�R&FR�6�F�RT0�&�B&��7FW'2�B7GVFV�@�6��֗GFVR��&�f�6VB�F�W��F�&Wr( �&�B&��( �BF�V� ���FV���D2�7GVFV�G2G&W76V@�W�F�6VBF�R�v�Bv����BV���VB�&6���r&�@�6��rF�V�VBFV6�"�B'G��ff�'2�&V�B6�W&��RF�א�v&6�6�B�( Ēv2F�&���V@�F�6��RF�R��G2�but���fWFW&�2�BF��F�V�f� �F�V�"6W'f�6R�'WBגff�&�FP�'Bv2�W"��G2�vF6�Ц��rF�V�v�g&���f��r�&�7BB&�B&��F�vWGF��p�6W&��W2�B&W&W6V�F��r�W �6���V�G���F�R&FRv0��W�W&�V�6R�v�����B6���f�&vWB�( Фf֖ǒG&F�F���6��6R�( �0�TĕE�4U%d�4R(
"4��54���(
"DTD�4D����4��Rb���uTU5DTdT�@���"�Ssb�C3�#ScR5DDR$�UDR(
"D�dU"���uur��E$U2�uTU5DTdT�Dd��4�Ф�b��RĔ�RD�R$T4��(
e�T4R5U�%B�U"EdU%D�4U%2��BDT��D�T���R4rD�T�"E2��D�R$T4���D����R