By Randy McNutt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FRANKLIN - The Franklin Area Historical Society is selling notecards of Warren County's Ohio Bicentennial barn to help raise money for the Harding Museum.

Also on the barn-art front, a Felicity artist has received permission from the Ohio Bicentennial Commission to sketch barns from other counties for use on the notecards.

The 12,000-square-foot Warren County barn, owned by Tom and Brenda Neeley at 6012 N. Ohio 48, features a red, white and blue bicentennial logo with a bright red star dotting the "i" in Ohio.

Painted in 1999 by artist Scott Hagan, the barn is one of 88 painted with the logo. One painted barn is in each Ohio county.

Felicity artist Cheryl Metzger drew the barn based on photographs taken by the society.

"We've had a good reaction to them," he said. "They're attractive and interesting."

Ms. Metzger said she started by painting the familiar Mail Pouch barns.

"So naturally I was intrigued when I saw my first bicentennial barn in Ripley," she said. "I applied to the state and received a license to draw and sell bicentennial pictures. From there, things just took off."

Ms. Metzger, who has been painting and drawing for 30 years, studied under watercolorist James "Skip" Werline of Adams County.

She has drawn pictures of bicentennial barns in Clermont, Brown and Hamilton counties. She sells notecards with images of barns there, too.

"Everything is done in black and white with pencil, except for the red, white and blue logo," she said. "I have a blue border around the pictures. I also sell prints and I may do some watercolors. I have a printer [machine] that uses archival ink, and I use acid-free watercolor paper. I print the pictures only as I need them."

The Historical Society is raising money for its Harding Museum. Five notecards with envelopes cost $8. A barn picture, suitable for framing, is $15.

They may be purchased at Fitzgerald's Flowers and Gifts, 410 S. Main St., Franklin. Telephone: (937) 746-6272. (The owner, Dennie Fitzgerald, is president of the historical society.) For information on postage, contact the Franklin Historical Society at 302 Park Ave., Franklin, OH 45005.

Ms. Metzger also sells the barn notecards from the four counties. The cost is $10 for a package of five, with envelopes. Single cards may be obtained for $3 each.

Send orders to Cheryl Metzger, 3602 State Route 756, Felicity, OH 45120. For postage information, e-mail her at clmetzger@aol.com.

CROSBY TWP. - Crosby Township in Hamilton County will kick off its bicentennial celebration Saturday.

From 4 to 9 p.m., the local bicentennial group will hold a fund-raising chili dinner and start a beard-growing contest at the Crosby Township Senior Center, 8910 Willey Road.

Maurice Hornbach, president of the Crosby Township Historical Society, said other plans include a Bicentennial Day festival May 18 at Stricker's Grove on Ohio 128.

A Bicentennial/Memorial Day parade is May 25. Participants will assemble at the Senior Center at 1:30 p.m. and proceed to New Haven Cemetery.

Bicentennial Notebook appears periodically. If you have bicentennial news, contact Randy McNutt, the Enquirer, 7700 Service Center Drive, West Chester, OH 45069. Telephone: 755-4158. Fax: 755-4150. E-mail rmcnutt@enquirer.com