Jim Johnson, Village Trustee, said, "I like to refer to Har-Ber Village as Love America Theme Park.  It is here to bolster our memories of our history."
    
       

The setting for the village just west of Grove, Okla. is the wooded, rolling hills on the shore of the Grand Lake of the Cherokees.  Purchased in 1944 as a place for a summer home, Harvey and Bernice Jones never expected to build an antique village.  It was established in 1968 when Harvey built Bernice a Church on the banks of the lake from bricks handmade before the Civil War.  The bricks came from three huge fireplaces in the old Van Winkle home in War Eagle, Ark.  

    

The stained glass windows were made in Fort Smith, Ark. especially for the church, and the pulpit came from the Zion Methodist Church, six miles southeast of Springdale, Ark. which was built in 1850.  In front of the church and facing the lake is the white marble Statue of Christ with out-stretched arms that was sent from Italy.
  
After the Church was built and the Statue of Christ was in place, vacationers boating on the Grand Lake started coming ashore.  Bernice thought a cabin for the preacher and his family would be nice.  Harvey found one, dating back to the 1840's, and brought it to the Village to be recreated log by log.
   

Next came the Schoolhouse.  This authentic one-room building was found near Goshen, Ark.  During the move some of the original desks were found in its attic, as well as other school supplies of the day.

"From this beginning" Bernice said," one thing led to another and now there are more than 100 buildings, each of which houses its own display."  She added," Harvey loved auctions, and we attended dozens over a four state area.  We would also hear about items such as  the Hearse, which we located north of  Oklahoma City, Okla. or the Bank with solid mahogany fixtures which was purchased in Carterville, Mo.  Its closing was caused by the Great Depression of 1929."
As you stroll through the village you will literally see thousands of items that represent America's past.  A few of the highlights in no particular order include:
  
The largest collection of authentic Log Cabins in the Midwest, such as the one from the Boston Mountains in Arkansas.  It was rebuilt without level or square.
  
The Mayor House is the oldest log cabin at Har-Ber Village.  This old house was fastened together with wooded pegs and between the cracks in the logs the builder used thin rock and red clay.  This was known as chinking.
  
The Steam Engine was used to power a large sawmill at Prairie Grove, Ark.
  
The old time Water Wheel was designed by Harvey and built in the shop of Jones Truck Lines, Inc.  A single cup of water will cause the wheel to turn.  In the Doll and Glass House there are more than 100 dolls wearing dresses designed and handmade by Helen Scarborough of Springdale, Ark.
  
The Drug Store with soda fountain and prescription case were part of an old drugstore at Pettigrew, Ark., owned by Helen Barker.  Most of the medicine bottles and prescriptions hanging on the case came from this drugstore.
  
The Barber Shop is full of authentic antique straight razors, shaving mugs, and other items.  There is a fancy barber chair and shoeshine chair. 

At the Stagecoach Inn the taped music is played by Morris Clarkson of Springdale.  The equipment including the bar and luggage came from six states and is very old.

  
The Courthouse is typical of those a century ago.  The pictures are of “Hanging” Judge Parker, a federal judge in Fort Smith, Ark.  The Hanging Gallows are a replica of a structure used in the early days of Fort Smith.  One unique detail is the 13 steps and two hanging ropes with 13 twists.
  
You will see the Dentists Office with an authentic foot operated treadle, drill, and bellows.  The Doctor’s Office of Drs. Mock, Baggett and Sisco and the Post Office with fixtures which are used in the Post Office at Aurora, Ark.
  
For the collector, you will find displays of pottery made by Francoma, Roseville, Weller, McCoy, Hall and Van Briggle.  Milk and carnival glass, pressed glass, custard glass, cut glass and flow blue china are also on display.  There are old time hats and dress shops, mineral collections, bricks from 49 states, a large collection of farm machinery, a shoe shop and a beauty shop.
  
There is a Boy and Girl Scout collection, military collection and building of Indian artifacts.  There are gun collections, old maps, newspapers, and even Ozark Mountain still.
  
“Ninety-eight percent of the items in Har-Ber Village were purchased by the Joneses and the rest was donated”, said Jim Johnson, Trustee of the Village.  A map and a complete listing and description of each Village building is in the Self-Guided Tour Brochure which can be picked up at the various locations around the complex.
  
The Village, named by Bernice using the first three letters of each of their names, can be summed up from the inscription on the beautiful Bell Tower in the center of the village:
  
"A sincere effort to preserve for future generations the way of life as experienced by our forefathers who carved out of the wilderness this wonderful country we know and enjoy today".
  

Village Established September 20, 1968.

Harvey and Bernice Jones.
    
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