'250 years in the making'

By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press

As Highland County is set for this weekend's America 250 Celebration, Hillsboro City Auditor Dawson Barreras has shared a video by James Scott and Kyle Edison with The Highland County Press and our readers at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqgBPMF9ZGc.

The video opens with Barreras' introduction and also includes city officials, Hillsboro Mayor Justin Harsha, Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Shawn Adkins, Hillsboro Public Works Superintendent Seth McCoy, Highland County Commissioners Brad Roades and David Daniels, State Sen. Shane Wilkin and State Rep. Bob Peterson.

"For 250 years, America has been shaped by communities, traditions and the people who call them home," Barreras said. "And here, in Highland County, Ohio, history isn't something we just read about, it's something we walk past every day. Standing in the heart of Hillsboro is a building that has watched generations come and go. A courthouse that has witnessed the growth of a community, the changing of a nation, and more than two centuries of Highland County history.

"Built in 1834, the Highland County Courthouse holds the distinction of being Ohio's oldest courthouse still in continuous use," Barreras added. "Its walls have stood through war, progress, hardship and celebration. As we come together to celebrate America's 250th birthday, we're taking a closer look at this historic landmark and the stories that have unfolded around it. This is Highland County history, and this is 250 years in the making."

Following Barreras' introduction, Roades welcomed Barreras, Harsha, Adkins and McCoy in a tour of the Highland County Courthouse bell tower, which will be ringing on Saturday, July 18 for the first time since the nation's bicentennial in 1976.

Below is Rep. Bob Peterson.

Below is Sen. Shane Wilkin.

Below is Commissioner David Daniels.

Below is Hillsboro Auditor Dawson Barreras.

As reported this week by Jamie Wheeler, executive director of the Visitors Bureau of Highland County, "Highland County is ready to celebrate, and this weekend is the time to do it. Residents and visitors are invited to join a special America 250 event honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States on Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18. Spread across Hillsboro and several of Highland County's historic villages, the weekend is packed with live performances, courthouse tours, living history presentations, and patriotic entertainment for all ages.

For more, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqgBPMF9ZGc and https://highlandcountypress.com/index.php/news/highland-countys-america….