Groveport Messenger - January 29th, 2023

PAGE 10 - GROVEPORT MESSENGER - January 29, 2023
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
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or are signed with a pseudonym, will be rejected.
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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.
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Rick Palsgrove ...................................Groveport Editor
southeast@columbusmessenger.com
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Map provides a portal in time
If you are a map nerd like me, then you will
enjoy taking a look at this map (at right) of
Editor’s Notebook
Rick
Palsgrove
Groveport from 1900.
Old maps offer a view
into the past of how
places once were and
how they are ever changing.
Old maps are also
works of art where the
mapmakers’ hand lettering
manages to blend a
large amount of information
in tight spaces while
maintaining clarity. The
bold lettering of
“Groveport” curving
across the page leaves no doubt to the viewer of
where they are. The straight lines of the streets
and property borders show how humans organize
the landscape among the squiggly lines of meandering creeks. It’s
a balance of geometry and geography.
This is a small, focused portion of a larger map of Madison
Township (hence the visible large “D” and “I”). Let’s dive into it!
One notices the three main transportation routes first. The railroad
swoops into town on a curve from the top of the map and then
straightens out to the right. The Ohio and Erie Canal runs diagonally
through town from the mid-right of the map to the lower left.
Groveport Road/Main Street cuts roughly through the center of the
map at a slight diagonal from left to right. The Scioto Valley Traction
Line (electric interurban railway) did not appear until 1904.
The streets were all dirt roads or paths and in 1900 some streets
took different routes. The town’s western border ended at West
Street. There was no Corbett Road yet and Ebright Road dead ended
on Front Street. Front Street extended north along what is now the
Foor Leisure/Bicycle Path. Blacklick Street extended to the canal and
then ran parallel to the canal before the street crossed the railroad
and connected to Ebright Road by the Mary Dildine property. Wirt
Road was a designated “free pike” that ran along the Ohio and Erie
Canal towpath.
Looking at the map one can pick out College Street, Elm Street,
Walnut Street, Cherry Street, Center Street, Church Street, Canal
Street, and others.
Can you find the Groveport Cemetery on this map? It is designated
as “GY,” for graveyard, in the lower center portion of the map.
The Groveport School built in 1884, and which was used until
1923, stood along College Street and its location is designated on this
Changes we go through
I was driving down the street one day and noticed each house had
about three or four cars in the driveway - one house, multiple cars.
Memories came to my mind. What I remember was, one house,
one car. The dad drove to work and the children walked, rode their
bikes, or took the bus to school. Dad worked to pay the bills while
mom stayed home, did the laundry, ironed the clothes, cleaned the
house, and cooked and served meals for the whole family.
Then, better times came, or so they say.
An automatic washing machine was invented - of course for a
price - but it helped mom. Then came a dryer, a television, a dishwasher,
and so on, all at a cost. So mom had to get a part time job
to help pay for all these new work savers. Mom bought a new robe
to wear around the house as her house dresses just would not do.
Then came babysitter fees. Mom had to get a full time job so now
she needed a car to get to work. A car that needed gasoline and
insurance, more expenses.
letter
map as “SH” for schoolhouse near the center of the map.
Speaking of schools, the current location of Groveport Elementary
(built in 1923) and Middle School Central (built from 1952-56) was
once 103 acres of land owned by the Chaney family. Imagine that
much farm acreage in what is now downtown Groveport. Though, it
is not noted on this map, this site was also where the Elmont Hotel
once stood where Middle School Central now stands.
Natural topography is shown on the map as in the lower right corner
where one can see Walnut Creek coursing through the area. Of
special note to see here is there was once an island at the southeast
corner of Groveport Road and Richardson Road where Walnut Creek
made a loop and reconnected again with its main channel. At some
point that loop was cut off by humans, but as all the locals know, that
area still can flood when the heavy rains come.
The squiggly lines of two tributaries to Walnut Creek can be seen.
One is Hanstein Creek which is at the center right of the map coursing
north to south. Another is a stream (I am unsure of its name) at
the center left that runs north to south to the creek following a path
down what is now Lesleh Avenue and through today’s green space
that separates Newport Village from the houses on West Street. I’m
guessing this stream is now mostly tiled underground
Finally, gaze at the map and see the many names of property owners
who owned rural land surrounding the town. These are among our
many ancestors who shaped Groveport and helped make it what it is
today.
What do you notice on the map?
Well, that’s a lot of map talk. I’m a little mapped out!
Rick Palsgrove is editor of the Groveport Messenger.
The kids grew up, moved out, and got married. That didn’t last
long. One of the kids and his or her mate moved back home to save
money for a house, washing machine, dryer, television, etc. You
get the picture. So now we have four cars in the driveway!
Mom’s getting tired by now, so they eat out more often - another
expense.
In time the kids move out and mom goes on Social Security. She
also goes back to washing clothes, cooking, cleaning, and taking
naps. She takes care of the grandchildren so their parents can go
to work and buy cars, washing machines, televisions, etc.
Now there is just one car in the driveway. But other cars are
coming and going all day long. This makes grandma and grandpa
happy knowing they are still needed to take care of their grandchildren.
They are still wanted and loved.
And they are especially happy that all their appliances are paid
for, including the car in the driveway!
Patty Brown
Groveport