Aunt Lydia Held an open house at the old Harrison Homestead in Radnor Twp, Peoria County Illinois on August 19, 1956.

This article appeared: A-4 SUNDAY JOURNAL STAR - PEORIA, ILL AUGUST 19, 1956
HARRISON HOMESTEAD NEAR DUNLAP EXEMPLIFIES ONE WAY OF LIFE
Antiques Go On Display 2 To 5 Today
By CLAUDETTE Rashid
Journal Star Staff Writer
A priceless collection of antiques and a decade of family dreams go on display at the Lydia Harrison farm home, northwest of Dunlap, this afternoon. Open house will be held at the 115-year-old Homestead from 2 to 5 PM by Miss Harrison, with the assistance of Radnor Grange.

The 160 acre farm, located in the rich prairie land near Dunlap and south of Princeville, has been the Harrison family home 100 years. ITS PRESENT owner, Miss Harrison (affectionately called Miss Lydia or Aunt Lydia by area residents) has lived on the farm her entire life. The sprightly gray-haired charmer with deep set blue eyes has a refreshing sense of humor and an amazing memory for history, dates
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She has devoted most of her life to "keeping things natural." "When my parents left me the place in 1920," she said, "I wanted to keep it as they left it. A family home…A homestead of return for the rest of the family."

THIS SHE HAS done successfully, still using many of the antiques that adorn the premises. Among them is the windless well, some 40 feet deep, who's seemingly endless rope, bucket, ladle and catch of spring water catches the fancy of both children and adults.

Kidd-Harrison
Of much interest to the visitors will be an old spring wagon seat, apple picker, ice saw and ice tongs, hand corn planter, shawl strap, wooden boot last, grappling hook, sickle, steelyards for weighing, harness vice, ox yolk, fireless stove, and branding irons (initialed A. H. for Absalom Harrison, Miss Lydia's father).