Heritage Village Museum
William J. Dichtl, Executive Director
11450 Lebanon Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45241
(513) 563-9484
Heritagevillagecincinnati.org
Contact: Deborah Pitel, Marketing Director
(513) 563-9484, MarketingDirector@heritagevillagecincinnati.org
July 7, 2014
News Release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Were the Three Little Pigs Right?
Cincinnati, OH – Once upon a time, three little pigs built three houses, one of straw, one of logs
and one of bricks. So what happened to those houses? Did they all really fall down? In Cincinnati, we
have two homes that seem to defy the outcome of the pig’s handy work!
On July 26, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. , two very different houses that were both built in 1804—one is log
and the other is brick—will be open to the public, with special demonstrations on the construction
processes of these two houses. Yes, the log house is still standing, but…… is it on its original site? And
who made the bricks for the brick house?
Come join us to learn the answers, watch professional craftsmen demonstrate how to construct these
buildings, have a few treats and enjoy checking out these two unique homes. For people of all ages, come
see these special homes that are still standing after more than 200 years. Each home will offer special
programs.
Located at separate ends of Hamilton County, one north and one south, but each easily accessible from I75, both homes will be open from at least 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., check their web sites for more details:

BRICK: The Betts House, 416 Clark Street, Cincinnati, OH, 45203, (513) 651-0734, close to
Music Hall, in a beautiful historic neighborhood, the Betts Longworth Historic District,
www.thebettshouse.org
Demonstrations:
2 til 4 pm.: Brick layers from G&G Langenbrunner Masonry Inc. will show how to ensure strong
bonds while laying bricks, share the secrets of their trade and talk about their profession. Started
in 1956, G&G is a third generation family business whose impressive masonry work can found
throughout the region.
1 til 5 pm.: Guides will share the history of the house, the bricks that made the house and the
history of the family that built the home. Children can enjoy the current exhibit, Build It!, which
offers interactive modules and play stations that teach concepts related to architecture and
construction. The permanent exhibit of the home will be open for display. For the adventuresome,
join the 1 p.m. Walking Tour, to enjoy the Betts Longworth Historic District. Admission is $2
and Walking Tour is $10, (includes admission).

LOG: The Kemper Log House, Heritage Village Museum, 11450 Lebanon Rd, Cincinnati, OH
45241
(513) 563-9484, located within Sharon Woods along with other historic wood homes and village
structures.
Demonstrations:
1 til 5 pm.: Log notching demonstrations and hands on log home construction activities for
visitors. Help us build a small log cabin! Learn how to use a shaving horse to make wood
shingles, and visitor can use hand augers to drill holes into logs and listen to volunteers explain
the mortise and tenon construction of an 1812 barn.
1 til 5 pm.: Heritage Village is open, visitors can enjoy a guided tour of entire village! For a $5
admission, visitors can enjoy a guided tour of the interiors of all buildings including Kemper Log
House and activities. For visitors who do not want to enter any of the buildings, a $3 admission
is available to enjoy a self guided walk, which includes all the log house construction activities.
(Separate Hamilton County Park fee required.)
ABOUT THE HOMES:
The Betts House: Built in 1804, Ohio’s oldest brick house is located in its original site in the
Betts-Longworth Historic District near downtown Cincinnati. The Betts House is a museum of the built
environment, offering exhibits and programs exploring architecture, historic preservation, building trades,
construction technologies, and building materials. Located two blocks west of Music Hall, at 416 Clark
Street, the house is open Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and the second and fourth Saturdays
of each month, 12:30 – 5 p.m. Other days and times are available by appointment. Admission is $2 per
person. Visit www.TheBettsHouse.org for more information.
The Kemper Log House: Built in 1804 in Walnut Hills by Reverend James Kemper and his family. The
Kempers and descendants of their 15 children lived in the house until 1897, then in 1913, it was moved to
the Cincinnati Zoo to serve as the gift shop for many decades. In the 1980s, the Kemper Log House was
moved to the Heritage Village Museum to be preserved and to be used to educate and remind us of life
over 200 years ago, when Cincinnati was the frontier. The 4 rooms inside (2 downstairs, 2 upstairs) are
furnished in a way that this family may have seen it.
Both the Betts House and the Kemper House are owned by the National Society of the Colonial
Dames of America in the State of Ohio (NSCDA-OH), a non-profit organization, founded in 1896, which
promotes our national heritage through historic preservation and education. The NSCDA-OH has owned
and maintained the Kemper Log House for over 60 years, first at the Cincinnati Zoo and now at Heritage
Village in Sharon Woods, and the Betts House for more over 20 years, to ensure that these historic
structures are preserved and shared with the community. In 2000, the National Trust for Historic
Preservation presented their prestigious Trustee Emeritus Award for Excellence in the Stewardship of
Historic Sites to The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America "for acquiring, restoring, and
interpreting a collection of historic properties that offer invaluable opportunities to experience the rich
variety of America's heritage.”
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