https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/9795 

It was just a hobby at first; an hour or so a week when Harry wasn't busy doing something else (such as supervising WPA construction projects in the 1930s). In 1954 he left the Sunday school and in 1955 he retired from the newspaper -- at age 65 -- to begin castle-building in earnest. The "experts" told Harry that he couldn't do it, but he did it anyway. We found no records of Harry working for the WPA or CCC. We find where he took the test to be a public work inspector for Hamilton County, Ohio.

meningitis 

https://www.thefishinprison.com/blog/moments-in-the-history-of-medievalism-historic-loveland-castle

WPA

https://www.citybeat.com/news/the-new-deal-left-local-landmarks-and-a-complicated-increasingly-relevant-legacy-12229250

https://abandonedonline.net/windsor-school/ Windsor School

https://news.colgate.edu/magazine/2020/08/07/the-man-in-the-high-castle/ same press release

http://www.worldwar1.com/sfroche.htm Same old press release

Mother’s Grave and Children https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60605435/jennie-e-andrews

https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/programs/education/americanization/ Americanization Program

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galahad one of three virgin knights.

https://www.madisoncounty.ny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/662/World-War-I-Participants-PDF Service List

https://news.colgate.edu/magazine/2020/08/07/the-man-in-the-high-castle/ Class of 1916 Andrews graduated from Colgate before joining the U.S. Army Medical Corps during World War I, eventually reaching the status of sergeant major.

Your Service Request Number: 2-28460849525

https://digitalcollections.colgate.edu/islandora/object/studentyearbooks%3A415 1916 Colgate class

https://www.wlwt.com/article/game-of-stones-how-the-loveland-castle-was-built/20686237

WLW Cip

Timeline Harry Delos Andrews

Father Fredrick Lucius Andrews B1868-D1953

Mother E Bretts Andrews B1870-D1957

Siblings

Myrtle Emerson 1892-1976

Audley Chamberlain “Ace” Andrews 1897-1984

Wilfred Burton Andrews 1900-1978

April 5 1890 Harry Delos Andrews was born in Oneonta, Otsego County, New York,

May 1916 Graduated Colgate Class of 1916 Age 26 (Photo in Yearbook)

July 5 1916 Leaves Fort Dix to France (Photo Description)

Unknown 1918 Photo back at Fort Dix

Treaty of Versailles with Germany on 28 June 1919

April 16, 1981 Death Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio

I have additional verified information regarding the origin and history of the KOGT. Harry Andrews was a schoolteacher at Windsor school in Cincinnati. KOGT started as, and remained, a school social club. It was NOT associated with the Boy Scouts or a given religious denomination. Although, church members were club members. KOGT started in his hygiene class at Windsor. Andrews later became the Director of the American House and the Americanization of new immigrants within the school district (funded by the Community Chest and the Board of Education). The Community Chest became part of the United Way. By December 2, 1927, KOGT had clubs in four schools. Windsor, Withrow High School, Hyde Park, and Printing School. Mr. Andrews envisioned KOGT and its moral codes spreading across the nation. On July 27, 1933 everything collapsed, 60 days after the Methodist Church blessed the cornerstone of the castle on May 20, 1933. Your evaluation of the craftmanship is correct. The creativity and tremendous efforts of a schoolteacher building a castle for a school social club (that no longer existed) is very noteworthy, sad, interesting, and impressive. However, it IS NOT the work of a master stone mason or even the work associated with the WPA and CCC. Nor do I believe he intended it to be compared to any other architectural accomplishments. He was building a unique castle made from local materials to be used as a club house. Email me for more info. I would like your insight.

Above: Historical photo showing bridge construction. Photo Credit: Doug Criswell, Courtesy Tammy Lewis Priebe

Narrative:

For clarification I was fishing upstream from Loveland on the little Miami and downstream from the Foster Bridge on the Old 3C highway. The Foster bridge was built in 1937 and is another wonderful example of D. H. Overman's stunning design of an open-spandrel arch bridge.

Also note the name of the Old 3C highway. Do not confuse the 3C name with the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s.  This is State Route 3 that connects Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland.  This once mayor highway was built in the 1930s and because each of the connected city starts with the letter “C” this road became known as the 3-C Highway.

The Carl Rahe Scenic River Access entrance is at 80-78 on Old 3C Hwy. This is a beautiful, but sometimes very busy, access point to the Little Miami River. The Loveland Canoe and Kayak Outfitters, owned by Mark and his wife for 20 years, uses this access as a launch point. During the filming of this episode, I had the privilege to meet Mark, and members of his team, and I was impressed by their approach, professionalism, and wonderful demeanor. You can fish upstream of the launch point to get some space or use the natural river side trails to mosey downstream. Early morning is quiet, but by 10:00 the parking lot is full of paddlers. I did see several individual launching personal angler kayaks. One couple told me that they had the second car at Lake Isabella. Their plan was to fish the Little Miami for 7.5 miles in front of the kayakers, and then finish their day, fishing at Lake Isabella.

2.75 miles downstream from The Carl Rahe Access, sits the Knights of the Golden Trail Castle, also known as the Loveland Castle. This fascinating rock structure sits on the right bank facing the river. The locals call it Harry’s Castle (after the builder).

The castle is designed to fight against external and internal conflicts. It is rugged and strong, delicate, and beautiful, primitive but amazing, overtly visible, and laden with secretes. It is practical and grandiose at the same time. It is not just Harry’s Castle; this is Harry D. Andrews himself.

When it first comes into view, one cannot help but ask questions.

Interesting enough, there is a large volume of past media coverage associated with this structure and its builder. However, most of this content is a redundant regurgitated storyline that is incomplete.

What, when and who are the easiest questions to answer. It is exactly what it looks like. It is a Castle, primarily built by one man, Harry D Andrews. He laid the cornerstone on Sunday, September 21, 1930. Members of the First Universalist Church attended, and Rev. Roberts Cummins spoke at the event.

From that point forward and until he died on April 16, 1981 this was Harry Andrews personal project. He never married, and he referred to the castle as his family and possible monument. Stone by stone, he collected rocks from the river and hill sides, mixed mortar, and laid course over course until what you see today stood erect on the bank of the Little Miami River.

Most sources repeat that "the castle features three distinctive styles of architecture design [--] German, French and English,". It is true that several styles were combined in a way that appears most pleasing to the beholder. However, do not think that this is a prime example of the work of a medieval Master stone mason. It is not.  But then, Harry Andrews, never intended it to be a masterpiece example of architectural style or form. His primary goal was for the castle to be functional, meet his original intent, built with local materials, substantially completed within his lifetime and with a very limited budget. These five criterions were met and that alone makes this an amazing story.

But as Harry poured his blood, sweat, tears, heart, and soul into this building it  took on the persona of the man himself.

To understand this, we have to start from the beginning. The year is 1927 and on April 1, the Cincinnati Post runs an article on page 13 featuring Harry D Andrews, who was then a 36 year old teacher at the Windsor School of Walnut Hills in Cincinnati Ohio. Seven young men of his hygiene class were announcing their new school social club they dubbed the Knights of the Golden Trail. The club started two months earlier and they were proud of their membership and sacred oath.  

to keep myself chaste and pure. To reframe from any drug or thing that can defile my body., mind, and soul.

The boys had pricked their finger and sealed their membership shingle that featured the sweet, sad face of Sir Galahad, one of the three virgin knights of King Author’s round table. The school colors were Purple and Gold. The ladies had their club called the Ladies of the purple sail, and now the boys had the Knights of the Golden Trail.  

In 2007, Disney released a movie named. Within the movie the Knights of the Golden Circles (or KGC) are part of the underlying plot of missing treasure. The KGC founder, George W. L. Bickley, was from Cincinnati and founded the organization in the 1850’s to support Southern causes such as slavery, Democrat Copperheads, and the right to withdraw from the Union and expand southern territory.

Harry Andrews was from upstate New York. He graduated in 1916 from Colgate College (also in New York. He enlisted in the Army after graduation and was stationed at Fort Dix New Jersey, spent some time in Europe during and after WWI, stopped by Philadelphia, before arriving in Cincinnati and becoming a teacher at the Windsor School.

Harry Andrews’, Knights of the Golden Trails was founded 56 years after the end of the civil war, one can safely assume that Mr Andrews 8th grade class was not planning an uprising to reinstate slavery and overthrow the Federal Government. The Knights of the Golden Trail started as an elementary social club, with a focus on being Courageous, Honest, Clean, and Strong.

Harry Andrews was aware of the organizational success of the Boy Scouts of America and Dan Beard’s work taken place in Cincinnati and Covington Kentucky. He initially envisioned the Knights of the Golden Trail expanding first within the local school system of Ohio and eventually throughout the United States.

Mr. Andrews was rising through the Cincinnati School system, on November 11, 1927 The Cincinnati Post listed him as the Principle of the Windsor School and on November 29, 1927 he was named the new Director of the American House located at the corner of Central Avenue and Banks Street. I believe I located where the American House once stood, I would love more information.

The American House was funded by the Community Chest (now known as United Way) and was used to facilitate Americanization programs that instructed immigrants on how to embrace US culture and citizenship and to become loyal and efficient workers.

I was surprised to find that the pharmacist John Uri Llyod once set on the board of directors for the American House. John is the older brother of Curtis Llyod that I featured in a recent episode about Leary Lake.

The Board of Education was providing most of the Americanization teachers. Since Harry D Andrews was a schoolteacher and fluent in several foreign languages, he was a natural for the newly open position.

There was something more, Mr. Andrews never seemed to shy away from voicing an opinion on how others should manage their affairs. Rather it was how Colgate should educate, how the Army should fight, or eight grade boys should act, he voiced an opinion.

This was mentioned in his college yearbook and embedded in his literature and rituals associated with the Knights of the Golen Trail. Now he was being commissioned to do the same with the large number of immigrants migrating into Cincinnati’s west end.

For several years the American House became Harry Andrews hub of operations and focus, he moved to 2412 Fairview Avenue which is less than a mile up the hill in Clifton Heights. He wrote how to manual for immigrants to obtain citizenship and to become good social minded productive Americans. The Knights of the Golden Trail had clubs now at Windsor, Withrow High School, Hyde Park, and a vocational Printing School and were meeting often at the American House and participating in events such as citizenship dinners.

On November 14, 1930, at a meeting at the Universalist Church of Walnut Hills the Knights of the Golden Trail met and elected officials to their Senior members group. This was five years before the Boy Scouts of America created a “Senior Scout” division for boys 15 and older.

In 1930 the great depression was tightening it’s hold on the economy and immigration was becoming a political issue.  President Hoover had signed a proclamation establishing an immigration quota for each country in the world. Newspaper articles still mentioned meetings at the American House and listed Harry D. Andrews as the director. However, the concept of Americanization of new immigrants was beginning to be replaced with closing borders, while others promoted celebrating your heritage instead of sheading your culture. Americanization fit in neither of these political camps.

Rather or not, Harry Andrews felt this political shift, I do not know. We do know that he offered his resignation as Director of the American House in May of 1930.  Sometime after that date Harry Andrews began to teach at the Linwood-Mount Washington Schools, which were on the eastside of Cincinnati.

He still lived in Clifton Heights, and 50 or more of the Knights of the Golden Trail where meeting at the Universalist Church of Walnut Hills. This church building also has a castle motif and is built of local stone. It may have been an inspiration for elements of his castle.  

On May 20, 1933 church members gathered in the parking lot, after church, and went to see the progress being made on Harry’s Castle. 67 days later, Harry’s life would completely change.

On July 27, 1933, the Cincinnati Post ran an article announcing the arrest of Harry D Andrews now 43 years old. The following day the article headline read “Teacher Sentenced For Molesting Boys” and announced that Harry D. Andrews plead guilty to a charge of Contributing to Juvenile Delinquency and was sentence to serve a year in the county jail.

I do not believe Harry feared the physical confines of jail. He had served in World War 1 and later would live very primitively at the castle. He had seen the horrors of war, famine, and disease. Jail itself he would handle. For the last 15 years he held jobs that encouraged him to tell others how to live, act, and behave, and he thought he understood the message, moral procedures, and predicted outcomes. More importantly he thought he knew who he was. And yet, here he was, laying wounded at the base of his own pedestal. He had a lot of self-examination to do.

I do not know if Harry D Andrews ever sought or found redemption. I don’t know if he ever apologized for the trust he violated and the harm he caused. I hope he did.

Based on his actions and writings ,

We do know that…hHe was going to deal with external and internal conflicts, reality, and myth. He had, and would continue to blend everything together and try to control the narrative. He couldn’t, wouldn’t leave himself vulnerable again. He would be rugged and strong. He had to focus on, and carefully execute minute details. He had to take stock of his natural assets and use them wisely and creatively. Some things could remain buried but not forgotten. Other elements would be overtly visible.

He would tell of his own death and resurrection, He was not Lancelot, He had to be Sir Galahad. He had a Castle to build for his noble knights, for without it, morality would be lost to the ages.

Upon his release from prison, he would be relentless… he had a Castle to build.

In closing…Let me say this story took us places we didn’t want to go. We didn’t know of Mr. Andrews arrest until we unearthed it in the newspaper archives of the Cincinnati Public Library. And it was not included until validation from two other newspapers were obtained. In one of the articles, the Catholic Telegraphs reported that Mr. Andrews informed Judge Hoffman

that while in Philadelphia he had been under investigation by the Boy Scouts. We went with the story, because it became apparent that Mr, Andrews violated the trust of his victims, students, immigrants, Church, Cincinnati School District and Social Services. The old, regurgitated narrative leaves these individuals in the story as nonchalant, unhurt, participants.      

On the other hand, Mr. Andrews was fighting internal dragons for longer than anyone knew. It is my belief the castle is a direct decedent of these internal conflicts. The number of stones laid is directly proportional to the magnitude of his internal battle. I feel for all parties involved.   

According to legend, Sir Galahad was one of only two knights to find the Holy Grail. I believe Mr. Andrews incorporated a replica of the Holy Grail, hidden in plan sight, within the structure of the castle. I will not tell you where it is, I encourage you to visit the Castle and search for the grail, for it is truly a Shakespearian tragedy of real life, 

for the truth is often far more interesting than regurgitated fables of the past.  

Using the Carl Rahe Scenic River Access on Old 3C Hwy, we fish the beautiful Little Miami River. Downstream from The Carl Rahe Access sits the Knights of the Golden Trail Castle, also known as the Loveland Castle. This fascinating rock structure sits on the right bank facing the river. The locals call it Harry’s Castle (after the builder). We research the history of the castle and try to bring clarity to an old, regurgitated narrative that removes important insight into the builder and the castle.

Little Miami River, Foster Bridge, Old 3C Highway, D. H. Overman, The Carl Rahe Scenic River Access

The Loveland Canoe and Kayak Outfitters, Lake Isabella, Harry’s Castle, Loveland Castle, Harry D. Andrews, Knights of the Golden Trail, KOGT, Cincinnati American House, American House

execute minute details. He had to take stock of his natural assets and use them wisely and creatively. Some things could remain buried but not forgotten. Other elements would be overtly visible.

He would tell of his own death and resurrection, He was not Lancelot, He had to be Sir Galahad. He had a Castle to build for his noble knights, for without it, morality would be lost to the ages.

Upon his release from prison, he would be relentless… he had a Castle to build.

In closing…Let me say this story took us places we didn’t want to go. We didn’t know of Mr. Andrews arrest until we unearthed it in the newspaper archives of the Cincinnati Public Library. And it was not included until validation from two other newspapers were obtained. In one of the articles, the Catholic Telegraphs reported that Mr. Andrews informed Judge Hoffman that while in Philadelphia he had been under investigation by the Boy Scouts. We went with the story, because it became apparent that Mr, Andrews violated the trust of his victims, students, immigrants, Church, Cincinnati School District and Social Services. The old, regurgitated narrative leaves these individuals in the story as nonchalant, unhurt, participants.     

On the other hand, Mr. Andrews was fighting internal dragons for longer than anyone knew. It is my belief the castle is a direct decedent of these internal conflicts. The number of stones laid is directly proportional to the magnitude of his internal battle. I feel for all parties involved.   

According to legend, Sir Galahad was one of only two knights to find the Holy Grail. I believe Mr. Andrews incorporated a replica of the Holy Grail, hidden in plan sight, within the structure of the castle. I will not tell you where it is, I encourage you to visit the Castle and search for the grail, for it is truly a Shakespearian tragedy of real life, 

for the truth is often far more interesting than regurgitated fables of the past.