Groveport Messenger - July 25th, 2021

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PAGE 4 - GROVEPORT MESSENGER - July 25, 2021 Groveport history films Two documentary films on the history of Groveport, produced by the Groveport Heritage Society and Midnet Media, are now available for viewing online on YouTube.The films are: “Groveport: A Town and Its People” and “The Story of John S. Rarey and Cruiser.” Letters policy The Groveport Messenger welcomes letters to the editor. Letters cannot be libelous. Letters that do not have a signature, address, and telephone number, or are signed with a pseudonym, will be rejected. PLEASE BE BRIEF AND TO THE POINT. The Messenger reserves the right to edit or refuse publication of any letter for any reason. Opinions expressed in the letters are not necessarily the views of the Messenger. Mail letters to: Groveport Messenger, 3500 Sullivant Avenue, Columbus, OH 43204; or by email to southeast@columbusmessenger.com. southeast Messenger (Distribution: 20,634) Rick Palsgrove ...................................Groveport Editor southeast@columbusmessenger.com Published every other Sunday by The Columbus Messenger Co. 3500 Sullivant Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43204-1887 (614) 272-5422 The Columbus Messenger 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. Keep tabs on the latest news in Groveport & Madison Township Look for Groveport Messenger on www.columbusmessenger.com Goodbye to a historic congregation Things, people, and places have beginnings and endings and now the end has come for a beloved church in Groveport. Editor’s Notebook Rick Palsgrove The historic Groveport Presbyterian Church’s last services were on July 11 with its regular morning service and a special “celebration of life” service in the afternoon. The Groveport Presbyterian Church formed 1853 when 11 people met in the home of Samuel and Elizabeth Sharpe to organize the congregation. More members soon joined and the fine brick church was built on College Street and dedicated on Oct. 5, 1853. It is the oldest church structure in Groveport and the longest church building in continuous use in town. Over its 168 years, the church has been redecorated, art glass windows added, as well as other amenities. An addition to the church was constructed in 1949. Its first pastor was Samuel Wilson. In 1853 the church’s congregation looked forward to its fulfilling future and the building’s brick walls gave off a sense of Our Pictorial Past by Rick Palsgrove Messenger photo by Marie Kujawski The Groveport Presbyterian Church sanctuary. permanence. But now, after 168 years, the Groveport Presbyterian Church, a long time source of spiritual and community service in Groveport, has closed and taken its place in the fabric of history. The beautiful little red brick church, located at 275 College St., offered church services, women’s teas, tasty spaghetti dinners, food drives, help for the homeless, the Safetytown program for kids, and so much more. Groveport Presbyterian Church Pastor Christina Piper said the church closed primarily due to declining membership. In April, she said the church at that time had 25 members. In the early 2000’s there were 45 members and the church’s membership peaked in the 1960s with 125 members. According to Piper, the church’s money resources were down, but the church was not in debt. But the congregation also was not growing. Church member Cindy Raver described the church’s closing as “heart wrenching.” “It’s overwhelming that after 168 years we’ve come to an end such as this,” said Raver. “It just seems such a shame.” Raver said past and present church members traveled from as far away as Missouri, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Virginia to be at the church’s closing service on July 11. “We may have been a small congregation, but we organized and supported some pretty big projects to benefit our community over the years,” said Raver. “I’m sure most of us will continue to do so and find new ways to help others as we’ve been taught our whole lives there.” The fate of the church building is in the hands of the Presbytery of Scioto Valley, which owns the church structure and will determine its fate. “This may be the closing of a church, but it is not ending the spread of the Gospel,” said church member Margaret Ann Cottrill, who has been a member of the church for 67 years. “Our Lord will lead us to new things and guide us wherever we are. He is with us every step of the way no matter what.” The church is silent now. Recently I stood outside the church and absorbed the stillness that envelopes it - a quiet that felt like a prayer. Rick Palsgrove is editor of the Groveport Messenger. Become a fan! BIRTHDAY • ENGAGEMENT • WEDDING • ANNIVERSARY • GRADUATION • RETIREMENT IN MEMORIUM • ARMED FORCES Say it with an announcement ad in the Messenger 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 Messenger 3500 Sullivant Ave. 614-272-5422 www.columbusmessenger.com Photo courtesy of the Groveport Heritage Museum Farm in 1940 This is a view of the barnyard of the Palsgrove family farm on Shannon Road in Madison Township as it looked around 1940. The farmhouse in the background was built in 1849 by William Whims. The house made from bricks taken from clay in a field across the road in front of the house. The farm is now gone, but the farmhouse still stands today along Shannon Road. For much of the 19th and 20th centuries, Madison Township was filled with many small family farms such as this. Messenger photo by Rick Palsgrove The Groveport Presbyterian Church, 275 College St., was built in 1853 and is the oldest church building in Groveport and was the longest in continuous use in town. However, after 168 years, the Groveport Presbyterian congregation has closed down. Groveport history The Groveport Heritage Museum contains photographs, artifacts, and documents about Groveport’s history. The museum is located in Groveport Town Hall, 648 Main St., and is open during Groveport Town Hall’s operating hours. Call 614-836-3333.
www.columbusmessenger.com Bixby Road project detours By Rick Palsgrove Groveport Editor Driving on west Bixby Road is going to be different for a while. A portion of west Bixby Road will be closed to through traffic, beginning on or around July 19, for approximately 60 days for road and culvert improvements. This improvement is part of the west Bixby Road reconstruction project, which is being done in two phases by the city of Groveport in partnership with the Franklin County Engineer’s office. “The city’s Capital improvement plan includes the reconstruction of Bixby Road under Phase 2, a continuation of the 2017 Bixby Road Phase 1 project,” said Groveport City Engineer Steve Farst. “The road condition is poor and required rehabilitation. The culvert is aged and due for replacement.” The project begins at the entrance to the Madison Christian School and extends east a distance of about 3,500 feet to the entrance to Three Creeks Metro Park. Farst said the improvements will include road reconstruction and paving, a shareduse path, and a new culvert located near the Madison Christian Church under Bixby Road. “The road width is not being significantly widened,” said Farst. “Work also includes a shared-use paved path alongside the south side of the road that will connect to the Bixby Road Three Creeks Metro Park entrance.” According to Farst, in 2019, the Franklin County Engineer’s office contacted Groveport officials and advised that an existing culvert carrying Hendron Ditch was to be replaced by the county in 2021. The city and county worked together to package that improvement with the city’s Phase 2, Part 1 Bixby Road improvement into a single bid package. “The city is funding the road improvement while the county is funding the culvert replacement,” said Farst, who added a portion of the new culvert will be lengthened a few feet to accommodate the shared use path, which the city will partially fund. Farst said funding for Part 1 is from a grant and loan to the city from the Ohio Public Works Commission, that combined are not to exceed $1.85 million. The funding for Part 2 is funded by the Franklin County Engineer’s office and from the Ohio Public Works Commission funds for the portion of the culvert carrying the shareduse path. According to Farst, the total construction contract is $1.5 million. Part 1 is $ 971,735 and Part 2 is $ 609,673. GriefShare group Farst said the road handles about 3,000 vehicles a day and, with future growth in the area, it’s expected traffic will increase to 4,500 vehicles a day. Detours According to information from the city of Groveport, during the project travelers should follow signed detour routes. West Bixby Road will be closed between its intersections with Hendron Road and Bixby Ridge Drive East. Bixby Road will be closed to through traffic. The address range of the closure is between 3393 Bixby Road and 4200 Bixby Road. Emergency police and fire services, mail delivery, and trash collection will continue throughout the duration of the project within the construction zone. During the project: •Through traffic along Bixby Road will not be allowed to pass through the construction zone, as the bridge/culvert will be out. •Access to properties west of Madison Christian Church, 3565 Bixby Road, including visitors to the church, shall approach from the west from Groveport Road. •Access to properties east of the railroad crossing (located north of the church), shall be made from the east, from State Route 317. These include the following facilities/ addresses: Amsted Rail-Griffin Wheel, 3900 Bixby Road; Three Creeks Metro Park, 3860 Bixby Road; AEP Dolan Center and AEP Training Center, 4100/4001 Bixby Road; and Living Skills Bixby Center, 4200 Bixby Road. •Eastbound through-travelers should follow the posted detour route that directs travelers to use Groveport Road east to State Route 317, turning left and going north toward the Bixby Road/State Route 317 intersection. •Westbound and southbound throughtravelers should follow the posted detour route that directs travelers use State Route 317 in a southerly direction, turning right at Groveport Road and going west toward the Bixby Road/Groveport Road intersection, to access all properties located west of the Madison Christian Church. •All through-traffic should follow posted the detour route and avoid the construction zone. •Residents and visitors to local residences, businesses, the Metro Parks, and the church/school, should follow the above instructions for access to these properties. •Dates are approximate and subject to change due to weather or unforeseen construction issues. Groveport United Methodist Church, 512 Main St., will sponsor a GriefShare group starting Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. Register online at https://www.griefshare.org/leaderzone/my/groups/136866. For information contact groveportgriefsharegroup@gmail.com or call 614-836- 5968. Farmers’ Market The Groveport Farmers’ Market will be held on Tuesdays through Sept. 14 from 4- 7 p.m. at Groveport Madison Middle School Central, 751 Main St. July 25, 2021 - GROVEPORT MESSENGER - PAGE 5 Groveport Messenger
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Groveport Messenger - July 25th, 2021

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