(PHOTO BY JESSIE DAVIS / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
FINAL FAREWELL … Sherman Hathaway, alongside wife Linda and volunteer Nathan Hardy, speaks at the Harrison Lake Gospel Drive-In last Sunday after being recognized for their leadership of the event over the last seven years. The Drive-In will be undergoing a location, format, and leadership change next year as it moves to the West Franklin Community Church in West Unity.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
Sixty-years of tradition came to an end with a celebration and honors at the final Harrison Lake Gospel Drive-In at its original location last Sunday before a format and location change next year.
The changes come as a result of its current location being sold along with the retirement of current leaders Linda and Sherman Hathaway.
Bean Creek Valley History Center President and Curator Colleen Rufenacht opened the event with a brief history of the event, culled from old newspaper articles.
According to Rufenacht, the beginnings of the drive-in trace back to 1964, when preparations were made to hold open-air gospel services at Harrison Lake beginning on the fourth of July and continuing every Sunday through Labor Day.
At that time, the event was sponsored by Olive Branch and Pleasant Hill (Zone) Union Churches Reverend E.A. Kreamer and featured music and guest speakers.
“The location was on the south side of the road, about 50 feet west of the park office,” Rufenacht said. “Provisions were made to ‘come as you are and sit in your car’ or ‘bring a chair and sit out in the air.'”
In the 1970s, the event was held on Saturdays and Sundays under the officiating of the Rev. Earl Hopkins. It eventually became a Sunday-only event, with leadership including Olive Branch Church Pastor Joseph Redmond and church member Donald Shaffer.
For the last seven years, the drive-in has been led by the Hathaways, who hail from Lockport Church. The Hathaways, who led the event for their final time last Sunday, were recognized with a plaque commemorating their service.
“We’re just glad for all the support we’ve had over the years, all the different people that have helped, and all the people sitting across the road over there,” Linda said. “It’s been good. We’re glad to see it continue for another hopefully many years.”
Sherman said he and Linda moved to the area from Missouri in 1998, when he helped Pastor Redbone with the event, beginning with loaning him a needed PA speaker system.
He remembered one volunteer in particular. “One man only helped one summer, it was all he could do,” Sherman said.
“He said he heard the music out on the lake and then came back up here to inquire about this music, and the pastor – Joe Redbone – asked him to come to his church and he came over there and was saved, gave his heart to God.”
“He wanted to keep this going. I wanted to help him all I could. After that one summer – June, July, August – in August he found out he had cancer, and in September he was gone.”
Sherman said he was moved by the support they have received over the years. “I don’t often get emotional, but it really broke me up so much that the people were willing to help out and keep it going, and I’m really, really pleased that we’ve been a part of it continuing, and we’ve done our best to keep it consistent,” Sherman said, later adding “I couldn’t have imagined it being any better.”
In addition to the recognition they received, Sherman said Monica Smith with the West Franklin Community Church had invited their daughter from California and their three sons from the Columbus area to the event. All four were in attendance Sunday evening.
The season-closing event featured a performance by the Steve Raymond Family, who Sherman said has always been the last act each of the years he and Linda ran it.
Next year, the event will continue at West Franklin Community Church, the drive-in’s longtime rain location.
A new name for the Harrison Lake Gospel Drive-In is currently being explored due to its no longer being held at Harrison Lake and no longer being a drive-in event.
