In 1800, Butler County had just been created and was nothing but forest, streams, and Indian trails. Dettmar Basse purchased 10,000 acres in this wilderness, where he hoped to create a barony similar to the ones he had known in Germany. In 1802, he started to build his Bassenheim (Basse's home). It took seven years and $7,000 to build this castle, and he also laid out streets for a town that he named for his daughter Zelie (nople means village). Zelie and her new husband, Philippe Passavant, of French ancestry, traveled here in 1807 and became the first merchants on Main Street. Their son William A. Passavant founded numerous orphanages and hospitals throughout the country. Christian Buhl, the hatter and furrier, came to Zelienople from Germany in 1802. His grandson Henry Buhl Jr. founded Boggs and Buhl Department Store on the north side of Pittsburgh. In 1927, he bequeathed an $11-million endowment to the Buhl Foundation, making it one of the best-funded foundations in the country.

David Elliott from What the Barber Knew returns in a new, action-packed thriller. 1953. David Elliott is a college sophomore American Literature major who also plays baseball and has a propensity to jump into things without looking. When his revered professor Steven Jeffrey ostensibly commits suicide, David receives a coded letter from him a day later. With the help of his cousin Judy, David is determined to decipher the message and make it public. However, they quickly become entangled in intrigue, murder, and peril masterminded by a cadre of CIA operatives. Only their courage and ingenuity can save them from also falling victims to staged murders. During their fight to survive, David and Judy face revelations both personal and political which will upend their lives. For readers who enjoy mystery novels sprinkled with political and social commentary. A similar reading experience to the “Mr. and Mrs. North” series by Richard and Frances Lockridge. “Although set in the 1950’s, this story resonates strongly with contemporary readers. The issues in the story, illegal government operations and shameful treatment of homosexuals, are alive and well today. Fans of Herrington will recognize David Elliott, now a college student, more mature, but still displaying the fair-haired innocence that made him so likeable in Herrington’s first novel, What the Barber Knew. David has a knack for stumbling onto murders, and an aptitude for helping to solve them. Readers will appreciate how much David has matured in this book. Herrington as usual has done his homework, basing the story on actual events that occurred in the 50’s. And as usual, his characters come alive with sharp dialogue. Fast pace, good descriptions, and puzzles that will stump most experts make this a fine read.” —Jimbo, NC

The remarkable architecture in the Harmony National Historic Landmark District reflects the town's German roots. In the early 1800s, German Lutheran separatists, led by Johann Georg Rapp, purchased depreciation lands from a German nobleman and founded Harmony. They organized as the communal Harmony Society in 1805, pledging to live as a family until Christ's return. The industrious Harmonists prospered, traveled to Washington to confer with Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, and gained international fame for their lifestyle and economic success. By 1811, they owned 9,000 acres and had constructed 130 buildings. Their main street was on the direct route from Pittsburgh to Erie during the War of 1812. Harmony's colorful past includes the Mennonite, oil boom, and electric interurban train eras. Maj. George Washington slept near here in 1753 and narrowly escaped being shot by a native guide. Among notable residents were songwriter Stephen Foster, professional baseball pitcher George "Rube" Waddell, and gunsmith Charles Flowers.