New Exhibit and Lecture Series at Hays-Heighe House at Harford Community College

A new exhibit, Made by Hand: Continuing the Story, will be on display at the historic Hays-Heighe House on the Harford Community College campus from September 26 through December 23. The exhibit picks up from the Hays-Heighe House’s inaugural exhibit, revisiting the House’s construction in 1808 and the rehab work that began in 2008. Learn new information about its architectural history and the people who have called the House home over the last two hundred years. Free and open to the public. Hours: Tuesday, 1–3 PM; Thursday, 3–5 PM; and Friday, 10 AM–noon.

Special events taking place at the Hays-Heighe House to complement the exhibit are listed below:

"The Underground Railroad in Harford County" Presentation
Monday, September 26 • 1-2 PM
Dr. Iris Leigh Barnes' presentation entitled "The Underground Railroad in Harford County" at the Hays-Heighe House has reached capacity for on-site attendance. However, the Harford Civil Rights Project will livestream Dr. Barnes' presentation via MS Teams.

Walking Tour of the Hays-Heighe House
Thursday, September 29, Thursday, October 20 & Tuesday, November 15 • 3:15-4 PM
Explore the Hays-Heighe House on Harford’s campus, learn about its changing uses, and discover some of its less-visited nooks and crannies. The tour will be led by Julie Mancine, College Archivist and Coordinator of the Hays-Heighe House at the College.

Lecture: Hays-Heighe House 2008 Remodel
Wednesday, October 5 • 12:45-1:45 PM
There is a planning process in rehabbing any building, and then compromises and decisions begin to be made along the way. Hear from Professor of Sociology, anthropologist and the College’s former Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Sharon Stowers, who was involved as Hays-Heighe was transformed into a public history site. 

Tea at the Hays-Heighe House
Thursday, October 13 & Thursday, November 10 • 12:30-2 PM
As refrigerators became more common in homes in the 1920s and 1930s, they changed not just what was eaten, but how it was prepared and what happened with the leftovers. Join us to learn more! Reservations are required; to reserve your seat and purchase a ticket, call 443.412.2539 or email HaysHeighe@harford.edu. Tickets are $20 per person.

Lecture: A Home for Harford Junior College
Tuesday, October 18 • 12:30-1:30 PM
In 1962, when the Harford County Board of Education bought Prospect Hill, it was a working farm. Hays-Heighe House Coordinator Julie Mancine will reveal how they repurposed it into a college campus in just two years.

Lecture: The Heighe Home Movies
Tuesday, November 1 • 12:30-1:30 PM
Robert & Anne Heighe turned Prospect Hill Farm into a headquarters for thoroughbred horse breeding and training. House Coordinator Julie Mancine will discuss more about them and the property through their home movies.

Lecture: “Tired of Rough Treatment” – Sam Archer and the Underground Railroad
Thursday, November 17 • 12:30-1:30 PM
The Hays-Heighe House is listed on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom; learn why. Hear about the Hays family’s involvement in the slave economy.

Lecture: The Hays Family: A Deeper Dive
Thursday, December 1 • 12:30-1:30 PM
The story of the Hays family is deeply intertwined with the growth and development of Harford County, along with other prominent families in the area.

Events are free unless otherwise noted. Pre-registration is required for all events: 443.412.2539 or HaysHeighe@harford.edu. Additional information is available at https://www.harford.edu/about/get-to-know-harford/hhh-history.php.