BJ Alums founder Harry Liggett’s home has been sold. Harry and his wife, Helen Smolak Liggett, lived at 544 North Firestone Blvd after they left their marital home in Dennison, Ohio and Harry began his legendary career at the Beacon Journal.

Harry passed away Jan. 24, 2014. He joined Helen, who died June 26, 2010, in Akron’s Holy Cross Cemetery.

Harry and Helen’s home has been for sale for more than a half-year. It was fixed up for sale, then copper thieves ransacked the place so it had to be repaired again.

Nephew Eric Poston, a Kent State journalism student, wrote:

“It was a home to my Great Aunt Helen and Great Uncle Harry.

“It was a place to stop and have some cookies or visit on a Sunday afternoon.

“It was a lawn job for five years for me.
“It was a painting job this past summer.

“It was and always will be a house with a lot of memories for me. As I pulled the door closed for the final time and looked at the sold sign, all these memories from the past came back.”

A lot of memories come back for all of Harry’s BJ colleagues, Eric. Of the days on the State Desk with Pat Englehart and Fran Murphy. Of the harrumph façade with a teaching heart for the dozens of reporters he whipped into shape.

For me, it also was our visits to Garerri’s Restaurant on Main Street for a toast to the holiday we were working, after Harry plunked his shot of whiskey into a glass of beer.

Some call it a boilermaker. Harry and I called it good times.

RIP, Harry. I’ll see you and Pat and Fran soon enough.
Going to miss the days of stopping by, but the memories will stick forever.