About Us
Historical Society of Montgomery County, Harkey House, Hillsboro
The Historical Society of Montgomery County was established in 1913 by a small group of local residents who shared a passion for exploring and preserving the county's history. The Society's mission is to discover and collect materials that help document and illustrate the story of Montgomery County — its exploration and settlement; growth in population, agriculture, industry, trade, and transportation; and advancement in education and the arts.
The Harkey House, built in 1834 by Solomon Harkey, was donated to the Society in 1968 by Ivan Lingle, owner of Lingle Motors. The house was moved one block south to its present location at 305 South Broad Street in Hillsboro. The Harkey House became the cornerstone of the Historical Society and was eventually opened for the public's enjoyment. Many adults and school-age children have passed through the doors of the Harkey House to view and examine life as it was when the Harkeys lived there.
Adjacent to the Harkey House is the Montgomery County Museum, a small, historic structure that may have been part of Hillsboro's first schoolhouse. Hand-hewn beams and signatures of the original carpenters were preserved when the Society converted a former rental house into the Museum. Exhibits rotate quarterly, and the Museum also houses a gift shop and the Society's archives.
The Harkey House and the Montgomery County Museum are open Wednesday and Saturday, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.
The Historical Society of Montgomery County is a registered not-for-profit organization and receives no federal or state funding. We rely on donations and help from people like you.