HARMON MUSEUM | ART, HISTORY & CULTURE
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      • Celebrating Black History >
        • Elizabeth Harvey Free Black Schooll
        • The Harmon Foundation & the Harlem Renaissance
        • Local Trailblazers >
          • Anna Middleton
          • Bing Davis >
            • Bing Davis Biography
            • The Art of Bing Davis
          • Cedric Michael Cox
          • Elizabeth Kimberlin
          • ​James Richard Mills
          • Rodney Veal
          • Samuel Robert Bailey
      • In Honor & Remembrance
      • Lunch & Learn Video Archive
      • William Elmer Harmon
    • Partner Organizations >
      • Harveysburg Community Historical Society
      • Loveland Museum Center
      • Mason Historical Society
  • Contact
  • Arts Network of Warren County

Elizabeth Harvey Free Black School

Elizabeth Harvey Free Black School & Harveysburg Community Historical Society

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Address: ​23 North St, Harveysburg, OH 45032
Phone: (513) 897-6195
Hours: By Appointment


Established in 1831 by Elizabeth Harvey in Harveysburg, the Elizabeth Harvey Free Black School was the first school for freed African American children in Ohio. Harvey had 25 pupils in her first class.

One of Harvey's students was Orindatus Simon Bolivar Wall. Ball was born into slavery, the son of a white planter, Stephen, and his slave Priscilla. He was freed by his father in 1838 (along with several of his siblings also fathered by Stephen Wall), and sent them to live in the Quaker settlement of Harveysburg, Ohio, (entrusting their guardian with $1000 for each child) where they attended the Elizabeth Harvey Free Black School.

Wall attended Oberlin College, established a successful footwear business and read law under John M. Langston.

He became a conductor on the Underground Railroad, assisting slaves in reaching Harveysburg. Wall was later the First Black Captain commissioned into the Regular U.S. Army and served in the U.S. Civil War. He earned the Medal of Honor and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Orindatus Simon Bolivar Wall's Accomplishments
  • Boot & Shoe Manufacturer
  • Underground Railroad Conductor
            (Oberlin Rescuer in 1858)
  • 1st Black Captain in the US Army 
  • Medal of Honor Recipient
  • Howard University Graduate
  • Washington DC Lawyer
  • Police Magistrate 
In 1976, the Harveysburg Bicentennial Committee acquired the building and restored it. The building is now the home of the Harveysburg Community Historical Society and their community museum.
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Office Phone: 513 932-1817
Email: [email protected]

Wchs Office/Harmon Museum

​Tues - Sat: 10am - 4pm
Year Round

1795 BEEDLE cABIN

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  • Plan A Visit
    • Harmon Museum >
      • Exhibits >
        • Armstrong Gallery of Flight
        • Ford Maritime Gallery
        • Glendower Historic Mansion Display
        • Shaker Gallery
        • Special Exhibits
        • The Village Green
      • Group Tours
      • History of Harmon Museum
      • The Museum Shop >
        • Finnegan Book
        • Gift Certificates
        • Local Artists & Artisans
        • Local Authors
      • Research Library
      • Special Exhibits
    • 1795 Beedle Log Cabin >
      • History of the Beedle Log Cabin
      • Relocation & Restoration
      • Saturdays at Beedle Cabin
    • WCHS Collection >
      • Art
      • Historical Artifacts
      • Textiles
      • Documents
      • Collection Information >
        • Collections Policy
  • Events
    • ⭐ Events Calendar ⭐
    • Art Exhibitions
    • Black Bag Bingo
    • Family Fun on the Frontier
    • Lebanon Festival of the Arts 2025 >
      • Pervious Lebanon Festivals of the Arts
    • Lunch & Learn >
      • Lunch & Learn Tickets
      • Lunch & Learn Video Archive
    • Music at the Museum
    • Special Exhibits
    • Special Events
  • Get Involved
    • Membership >
      • Become a Member
      • Business Membership
    • Donate >
      • "Celebrate Our Future" Capital Campaign
      • Joseph Warren Statue >
        • Information on Joseph Warren
    • Volunteer
  • Facility Rental
  • Kids & Education
    • History Camp
    • Lena Iorns Award
    • Saturdays at the Beedle Cabin
    • Schools Tours
  • Blog
  • About
    • FAQ
    • About Us >
      • Board and Staff
      • History of Our Properties
      • History of WCHS
      • Research Library
      • WCHS Collection
    • Community History >
      • Celebrating Black History >
        • Elizabeth Harvey Free Black Schooll
        • The Harmon Foundation & the Harlem Renaissance
        • Local Trailblazers >
          • Anna Middleton
          • Bing Davis >
            • Bing Davis Biography
            • The Art of Bing Davis
          • Cedric Michael Cox
          • Elizabeth Kimberlin
          • ​James Richard Mills
          • Rodney Veal
          • Samuel Robert Bailey
      • In Honor & Remembrance
      • Lunch & Learn Video Archive
      • William Elmer Harmon
    • Partner Organizations >
      • Harveysburg Community Historical Society
      • Loveland Museum Center
      • Mason Historical Society
  • Contact
  • Arts Network of Warren County