The Philip Harshman house (c. 1803-1807) was discovered in 1985 when a wood-sided two-story house, which was originally located just south of St. Luke Catholic Church on North Fairfield Road, was condemned and slated for demolition. When the wood siding was removed, the original log house was revealed. An effort was quickly begun by a group of local citizens, that later became the Beavercreek Historical Society, to save the historic structure for restoration. The stone pathways to the Harshman House kitchen garden as well as those leading to the Ankeney House are limestone rocks which were saved from the foundation of the old Lantz Barn on Kemp Road.

• The Harshman House The Harshman House
• Phillip Harshman Phillip Harshman
•  

In the vacant lot just south of the present St. Luke Church was a condemned wood-sided home, scheduled for demolition.  When the siding was removed, the original log home was revealed.  The home had been constructed between 1803 and 1807 by Phillip Harshman, a blacksmith who brought his bride, Frances “Fannie” Durnbaugh with him from Frederick County, Maryland.  They lived in their covered wagon while the home was under construction.  Phillip became a farmer and never returned to blacksmithing.

The saving and restoration of this home was conducted in 1985 by a group of citizens who later became the Beavercreek Historical Society.

Years later, and across the street, another log home was found...

• Log cabin 1 Log cabin 1
• Log cabin 2 Log cabin 2
• Log cabin 3 Log cabin 3
•  

Continue straight on McKay Road when Lantz Road makes a 90° left curve.  In the neighborhood to your left was the 217-acre farm of Jonathan "Squire" (1802-1884) and Mary Smeltzer-Hanes, second son of Judge & Mary Haines. He was an active distiller, and followed his log cabin with a 13 room, two-story home with bricks fired from clay dug from nearby Bullskin Run creek.  The home burned during restoration in the early 1970's.

Turn right onto Maple Lane.  At the curve in the road you’ll find the 29-acre Karohl Park, formerly the Philip Harshman II farm.  This park is unique in that locals can rent 20’x20’ gardening plots to grow their own fruits and vegetables.

Bear right onto Maple Lane and you’ll see a small, young-growth sampling of why this entire area up to I-675 was known as ‘The Big Woods’.  Turn left on King James and then right onto Hanes Road.

• Jonathan "Squire" Hanes Home 1 Jonathan "Squire" Hanes Home 1
• Jonathan "Squire" Hanes Home 2 Jonathan "Squire" Hanes Home 2
• Jonathan "Squire" Hanes Home 3 Jonathan "Squire" Hanes Home 3
• Jonathan "Squire" Hanes Home 4 Jonathan "Squire" Hanes Home 4
•  

Thanks to everyone at Growing Up In Beavercreek Ohio for the assist in identifying the photos!