Barbara, originally from Columbus, returned to the area with her husband when he retired from pastoral duties at a Congregational Church in West Virginia. With five children residing in the vicinity, they chose Hilliard as it was centrally located for family visits. Tragically, her husband passed away just a year after their move, and she has since called Hilliard home for the past 18 years.

Elvira Michaels is a volunteer docent at our Historical Village. When she arrived in the United States from Italy in 1967, she didn’t speak a word of English. Initially, she planned to work for the summer and then return home. However, plans changed, and she decided to stay.

Nikhita is a student volunteer at the Historical Village and the Hilliard Ohio Historical Society Library. Nikhita has always been fascinated by the stories of the past. She will be starting her senior year this fall at Dublin Jerome High School. Her interest in history has led her to wonder about the lives of people who walked the same grounds centuries before.

Donna Olenhouse has been a volunteer with the Historical Society since 2016. She works as a docent giving tours of the Historical Village to the public. Donna also volunteers one day a week at our Archival Library, and she manages our growing Venue Rental program. She and her family have been residents of Hilliard for 31 years.

Joann Hensley has been a volunteer with the Historical Society for about 6 years. She loves history and was attracted to the one-room schoolhouse because it reminded her of her own school where she grew up.

Tim Woodruff is a well-known face around Hilliard and at the Hilliard Ohio Historical Society. A current and past Board member, Tim is a two-term past president. All told, he’s served in leadership roles for nine years. Of his involvement Tim said, “It’s one of the most fun things I’ve done outside of my working life. I have a lot of friends here.”

Megan Martin is the society’s Volunteer Coordinator and expert on the Historical Village’s Log Cabin. She frequently can be seen dressed in a period costume telling visitors about 19th century life. “I like to teach people about the past so they can appreciate the future and what they have,” she said.

Kathy Chandler used to hate history. Today she’s vice president of the Hilliard Ohio Historical Society. It was a beloved, long-time member and leader, the late Randy Smith, who introduced her to the amazing facts that make up history, especially local history.

“Ben Buoni is one of those unsung heroes that every organization wishes they had more of. He will see something that needs to be done and just does it, then wants no recognition for doing it,” said Bob Eggerichs, president of the Hilliard Ohio Historical Society.

Mike Lichtensteiger has been involved with the Historical Society since about 2007 – some two years after his wife, Ruth, began volunteering to work on genealogy in the society’s library.

Hilliard’s former police chief started his eighth year as treasurer of the Hilliard Ohio Historical Society this month. Rod Garnett wasn’t yet a member when board member Tim Woodruff recruited him for the position in 2015. “I’ve known Tim for a long time and he asked me to do it,” said Rod.

Bob Eggerichs began his second term as president of the Hilliard Ohio Historical Society in August.

Hilliard Darby High School sophomore Kole Hyer, 15, is one of six teenagers who are members of the society and the only one who is a member of the Board of Trustees. Kole is, in fact, the board’s youngest member.

Ron Snider has been a member of the Historical Society for some 11 years. Like so many others, he was invited to join by someone already involved - former president, the late Harry Smith. Ron knew Harry when they worked together. Ron was a math teacher for 32 years at the old-Hilliard and at Davidson high schools until he retired in 2001.

Dawn Steele, prosecutor and staff attorney for the city of Hilliard, is Vice President of the Hilliard Ohio Historical Society.

James has been an active member of the Hilliard Ohio Historical Society for the past decade. He was drawn to the society's commitment to preserving the past and educating the public about historical concepts. James admires the society's efforts to provide high-quality educational experiences and events.

Ed Olenhouse's dedication to the Hilliard Ohio Historical Society spans eight years of active involvement, during which he's lent his time and expertise to various projects and initiatives.

A Journey to Hilliard: Embracing History and Community