PAGE 4 - SOUTHEAST MESSENGER - <strong>June</strong> 16, <strong>2019</strong> southeast <strong>Messenger</strong> (Distribution: 19,206) Rick Palsgrove ...................................<strong>Southeast</strong> Editor southeast@ columbusmessenger.com Published every other Sunday by The Columbus <strong>Messenger</strong> Co. 3500 Sullivant Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43204-1887 (614) 272-5422 The Columbus <strong>Messenger</strong> Co. reserves the right to edit, reject or cancel any advertisement or editorial copy at any time. The company is not responsible for checking accuracy of items submitted for publication. Errors in advertising copy must be called to the attention of the company after first insertion and prior to a second insertion of the same advertising copy. BIRTHDAY • ENGAGEMENT • WEDDING • ANNIVERSARY • GRADUATION • RETIREMENT IN MEMORIUM • ARMED FORCES Say it with an announcement ad in the <strong>Messenger</strong> and spread the word. You can download the appropriate form from our Web site or stop by our office Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Columbus <strong>Messenger</strong> 3500 Sullivant Ave. 614-272-5422 www.columbusmessenger.com www.columbusmessenger.com column The functional art of street drains A few years ago I wrote a column about the interesting decorative designs that appear atop a variety of manhole covers on Groveport’s streets and how these objects were examples of functional art. Editor’s Notebook That column included photos of some of the manhole covers and it received an Rick Palsgrove amazingly positive response from readers. So much so that some readers over the years suggested I write a similar column about - wait for it - the functional art of street drain covers! This column is for all of you. Much like the manhole covers, the street drain covers have an artistic nature about them while still fulfilling their role of helping water drain away. They come in various shapes and sizes with their slot openings, which allow water to pass through, mostly arranged in grid patterns. (See photos with this column.) One of my favorites is a cone shaped drain cover with web-like holes whose peak rises a few inches. It’s the only cone shaped drain cover like it I could find in town. It looks a lot older than many of the other street drains in town, but it’s still here doing it’s job. This drain cover is located in a parking lot so I can only guess that its peak was designed to prevent vehicles from driving over the drain. <strong>Messenger</strong> photos by Rick Palsgrove This cone shaped drain is located near a parking lot. It appears to be very old. A drain cover I came across in an alley, and which I like the design of, is much smaller than the other drain covers around town. It’s circular with narrow slots in the center of the circle. Its design reminds me of the look of a small 45 rpm vinyl record. But then again, I wonder if this drain cover is actually some sort of vent cover because nearby there’s a larger square drain cover. There are several kinds of rectangular as well as square drain covers around town with varying kinds of slot patterns. The older ones on Blacklick Street have symmetrical slots in horizontal rows parallel to the outer shape of the whole cover. The newer rectangular drain covers have slots that run across the rectangular cover and the slots are angled to enhance water flow. I did find one rectangular drain cover with oval shaped slots that looked quite old. I found a square drain cover with wavy shaped slots that mimic the movement of water. There are also large, circular drain A wavy grid drain in an alley. covers in various places with rows of rectangular slot openings arranged within the circle in geometric harmony. The main difference between the artistic merits of the drain covers when compared to the manhole covers I wrote about years ago is that the manhole covers have more decorative flourishes manufactured into them while the more plain drain covers’ pleasing aspects have more to do with the simplicity of their shapes. (I remember one manhole cover that was covered with stars Sadly, I think this cover was later broken when a vehicle ran over it while making a turn. Other manhole covers had diamond shaped lines etched into them, another looked like a waffle, and so on.) Beauty is all around us, even in iron, man-made industrial objects below our feet and vehicle tires. We only need to be aware and watch for this beauty to appreciate it. Rick Palsgrove is editor of the <strong>Southeast</strong> <strong>Messenger</strong>. SUPPORT your Community Paper Through advertising, community newspapers like the <strong>Messenger</strong> have always been FREE papers. In these tough economic times we are asking you the reader to help offset the current decline in advertising revenue by participating in a VOLUNTARY payment program*. To those who have already participated - We Thank You. For those who would like to, below is a form you can mail with your DONATION. *This is not a subscription. Our Pictorial Past by Rick Palsgrove 3500 Sullivant Ave., Columbus, OH 43204 .Name: Address: City/State/Zip 1 year ($9) 2 year ($18) Eastside Westside Southwest <strong>Southeast</strong> At the Elmont Photo courtesy of the Groveport Heritage Museum Pictured here in a photo from the early 1900s are some ladies gathered on the front porch of the Elmont Hotel that once stood on Groveport’s Main Street where Middle School Central now stands. The Elmont was noted for the social functions that were held there.
www.columbusmessenger.com <strong>June</strong> 16, <strong>2019</strong> - SOUTHEAST MESSENGER - PAGE 5
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