HISTORY OF HARBOR HILLS AND HARBOR HILLS WOMEN’S CLUB
Harry D. Freeman founded Harbor Hills in the year of 1921. He was a realtor from Columbus, Ohio. Buckeye Lake was called the “Pond” in 1803. It consisted of 3300 acres of water. His office was a small building at the corner of Freeman Memorial Drive and Lakeshore Drive East. It was laid out in 50 foot lots for summer cottages to be built on them.
In 1940, a monthly paper was published informing residents of news and events to attend. Harbor Hills Golf Course, which is really not a part of Harbor Hills, was the Green farm therefore, their cemetery still is maintained as you enter Harbor Hills on the left. The golf course was founded in 1927. The club house served as a meeting place for the residents and still does. Sunday School was held there for the children on Sunday mornings at one time.
After Mr. Freeman’s death, September 10th, 1954, the civic association developed a realtor’s 
organization called Lakewood Estates and sold some of the lots. Some homes were also built by them. Finally, Clem Long auctioneers held an auction in 1975 and sold all the lots.
On October 18th, 1956, the Harbor Hills Garden Club was organized to perpetuate the memory of Harry Freeman and to carryon with the work o f beautification which he and his wife, Fanny, had begun so long ago. Trees, shrubs and grass were planted and maintained by t h i s
group. The club house was also beautified by planting shrubs and flowers. Warwick Nursery did the planting on the entrance.
In 1957, the club was offered the job of operating the refreshment stand at the polo games. At first, it was operated on a 40-60% basis but later 662/3% basis. Polo club was formed in 1930 and they played polo between Chicago and Washington and Buffalo to Palm Beach. Dr. Clyde Reed owned the polo field . The polo program account was later turned over to the club which meant advertisements had to be purchased and it proved successful.
It was 1957 when the flares were first lit on the Fourth of July in Harbor Hills and later around the entire Buckeye Lake with Leona Koerner the instigator of this project.
In 1966, The Garden Club’s name was changed to Harbor Hills Women’s Club due to the growth of the community and the need for activities. Card parties were held a the club house in May, flares were sold for the Fourth of July and maps o f Harbor Hills were printed and sold.
The Constitution of the Harbor Hills Women’s Club was adopted in 1971. Pink and green were their colors, dues were $3.00 and the meetings were held on the third Thursday of every month except December, January and February.
The name o f Freeman Memorial Drive was adopted for the road leading into Harbor Hills 
after the death of the Freeman’s. A memorial stone was placed at the triangle of Freeman Memorial Drive and Lakeshore Drive East with Rose Edmund writing the memory verse. A rustic sign was placed a t the entrance as well as a light which the club paid for the installation and upkeep.
The club entered a Columbus Dispatch Contest in 1976 describing the progress of the club’s projects and received a certificate of honorable mention.
In 1987-1988, directories were compiled with names, addresses and telephone numbers of every resident in Harbor Hills and distributed to each family. They have been updated and printed every two years up to this year.
Christmas was a time when Harbor Hills was decorated in every area with different decorations. Large decorations were made by the residents and displayed. This had t o be discontinued due to the vandalism o f the sleigh and other items. The club sold large candles as a project to replace the decorations and to maintain our unity of Christmas spirit.
Other projects were selling house numbers to all residents, helping the delivery persons. Street signs were also purchased and placed on the streets.
Some of the organizations the children could participate in were cub scouts, little league baseball and the ski club. Tennis was popular earlier with ice cream socials held to defray the expenses of the courts . A baseball diamond was built and concession stand along with dugouts. The concession stand was later destroyed but fire.
Other projects consisted of the lettering on the newly painted water tower and spraying for mosquitos in the same year.
Since 1994, a Memorial Day Parade has been held on Memorial Day with the decorating of golf carts and other vehicles. A potluck dinner is enjoyed afterwards.
In 1999, the card party and style show was their only projects with the profits given to the civic association to be used as they need i t . A Christmas brunch i s held a t Christmastime with the members giving toys to the needy children . Trips and programs were enjoyed this year.
Compiled by Eloise Lothes, 1999 Click to see Original Typed Document