Miriam Satterthwaite served as Jail Matron from 1952 to 1960 when her husband, Dick Satterthwaite, was Warren County Sheriff. As Matron, Miriam was responsible for the purchasing and cooking of food for the prisoners at the jail on East Silver Street, where she and her family lived.

Oral History
July 26, 2017 Miriam and Vance Satterthwaite

Jim Fred is a descendant of the Fred family, one-time owners of the Fred House, now known as the Corwin House. The Corwin House is currently owned and utilized by Warren County for the central office of the Warren County Engineer’s Office.

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November 29, 2018 Jim Fred Transcription

Warren County resident Dan Cunningham gives his recollection growing up in the small town of Lebanon between the 1950s and 1970s. With interesting tales of the Silver Street Jail and Neil Armstrong, Dan provides a unique perspective as to Warren County government history.

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June 25, 2019 Dan Cunningham Transcription

Michael Yetter retired in June 2019, after a 16-year career with the Warren County Building & Zoning Department, reaching the position of Zoning Director. Michael helps to define what constitutes Warren County property and what large industrial changes the county has experienced in the 21st century.

Oral History
June 27, 2019 Michael Yetter Transcription

Clyde Baston gives a charming recollection of growing up in Warren County in the small Western Row Road church building next to what is now the Kings Island amusement park. Clyde eventually joined the Warren County Emergency Police before becoming a Hamilton Township Trustee.

Oral History
July 9, 2019 Clyde Baston Transcription

Kit Newport is the granddaughter of Charles Young, a Mary Haven Children’s Home resident who was born around 1897. Ms. Newport relayed stories to the Records Center of her grandfather’s time at the Children’s Home as he described to his son, Richard Charles Young, Kit’s father. This recollection of the Children’s Home is the earliest known to the Warren County Records Center and Archives.

Oral History
July 10, 2019 Katherine “Kit” Newport Transcription

Air Force Veteran, Beverly Susan Melampy, alongside her younger brother Benny, was a resident of the Mary Haven Children’s Home twice between the years of 1960 and 1968. Beverly gives detailed descriptions of life at the institution, as well as interesting stories of her times there.

Oral History
July 26, 2019 Beverly Susan Melampy Transcription

Jim Sheets is a retired local attorney, known for his representation of The Train Stop during the infamy of Sam the Chimpanzee. Around 1963, Jim was a Special Deputy for the Warren County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Byron Kennard, where he worked as a jailer and dispatcher.

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July 29, 2019 Jim Sheets Transcription

Bob Hack, grandson of Amelia and Saul Fred, along with his wife Dorothy, give accounts of Fred Family history while sitting in The Corwin House. The Corwin House is currently owned and utilized by Warren County as the central office for the Warren County Engineer’s Office. The building was once owned by the Fred Family after Governor Corwin and was used as divided apartments during the mid to late 1900s.

Oral History
August 21, 2019 Bob and Dorothy Hack Transcription

The Sparks sisters were residents of the Mary Haven Children’s Home in the 1960s. A riveting story, the sisters give amazing detail as to the day-to-day life as Children’s Home residents and how their lives were shaped by it.

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August 22, 2019 Sparks Sisters Transcription

Andy Russell retired in December 2021 after a 40-year career with the Warren County Garage. After working in his father’s garage in high school on Sheriff’s cruisers, Andy was hired in May 1981 as Assistant to the Chief Mechanic, only to become Chief Mechanic five months later in October 1981. Andy recollects many amazing stories of his time with Warren County and how the mechanical transportation of Warren County government has changed in forty years.

Oral History
December 1, 2021 Andy Russell Transcription

Tom Ariss was a lifelong law enforcement officer who served as Sheriff of Warren County from 1992-2009. After leaving law enforcement, Tom was elected as a Warren County Commissioner from 2011-2014. As a fun bonus, retired County Chief Mechanic Andy Russell appears at the end of the interview for some joint questions.

Oral History
December 6, 2021 Tom Ariss Transcription

Bonnie Ariss was a volunteer for the Warren County Sheriff’s Office before working full time. Bonnie is married to former Warren County Sheriff and Commissioner, Tom Ariss and provides an interesting perspective into the law enforcement history of Warren County. She also shares stories of her 25 years of working at the Kings Island amusement park.

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December 13, 2021 Bonnie Ariss Transcription

Pamela Spetter Schwartz served as the first Warren County Records Manager and Archivist from 1998 to 2008, overseeing the creation and completion of the Edna Bowyer Records Center and Archives. Pamela gives a detailed description of Warren County records history alongside memorable recollections during her time at Warren County.

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June 24, 2022 Pamela Spetter Schwartz Transcription

Keith Anderson served as an assistant prosecutor for the Warren County Prosecutor’s office for 31 years until retiring in 2022. Keith graciously detailed his experiences within the justice system, as well as aiding the Records Center in records retention and understanding the inner workings of criminal law.

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July 13, 2022 Keith Anderson Transcription

Alice Logan was the clerical specialist for the Sheriff’s Office from 2006 to 2022. Alice discussed the behind-the-scenes paperwork of the Sheriff’s Office and the courts. Leading up to the construction of the new jail on Memorial Dr. we learned about the some of the pain’s clerks go through to operate a successful office.

Oral History
April 12, 2023 Alice Logan Transcription

Kelly Walker worked in Warren County’s Map Room for 21 years and worked in the Recorder’s Office for 10 years. Kelly details her time working in the county from 1992 – 2023, from creation of the GIS department in the map room to working with title examiners.

Oral History
May 17 2023 Kelly Walker Transcription

Jenifer Baker was the first deputy archivist for the county from 2015 to 2023. Her focus was creating educational outreach to area schools, working on interdepartmental and public records requests, and creating exhibits for the county. Jenifer oversaw the expansion of the Records Center and dealt with the challenges housing physical materials in a basement.

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June 7 2023 Jenifer Baker Transcription

Edward “Ted’ Hitchens was Records Center Support from 2007 – 2023. Ted was responsible for file and box deliveries along with keeping track of both for the County. Ted had shred days for interdepartmental documents, assisted in exhibit creation, and worked before and after the inclusion of digital databases for physical files.

Oral History
August 9 2023 – Edward “Ted” Hitchens Transcription

Homer Hendrickson worked in the GIS department as tax map supervisor to the Map room from 1984 – 2008. Homer reviewed surveys, plats, and annexations and fielded questions from the public concerning property lines. Homer spoke on the changes of his department over time and the dialogue between different offices, like the Auditor’s and Recorder’s offices.

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August 22 2023 Homer Hendrickson Transcription