On February 4, 1939, six Clintonville ladies met at the house of Mrs. Frank Hiatt to discuss the need for a cultural, charitable, and civic group in Clintonville. The women were Mrs. Walter H. Ives, Mrs. Herman O. Williams, Mrs. Frank Hiatt, Mrs. Russell Kennett, Mrs. Harry Mesloh, and Mrs. Rand P. Hollenback. Each woman made a list of representatives of all the local organizations and churches, and recruited them. The result was a list of 40 charter members. Their objective was “to encourage wholesome community life, to promote acquaintance among women of varied interests; and to secure cooperation in social, educational, civic, and welfare work in Clintonville.” They met in small groups, rotating the meetings between member’s houses. They also had 18 special interest groups. The annual dues were $3, $1 of which was set aside to build a club house. They achieved that goal through the generosity of the Kiwanis Club, which in 1951 gave the women’s club land on which to build at 3951 North High Street. Ground was broken in 1964, and in 1965 the building was dedicated. The club is still vibrant and the clubhouse can be rented special events. (Photo courtesy of the Kerchner family)

One of the oldest churches associated with Clintonville is surely the First Free Methodist Church, named so because they did not believe in charging members for pews. The church is over 100 years old (started 1906) and in the 1920s was located at 57 Weber Road. In recent times the church changed its name to Church of Living Hope and is presently located at 4147 Westerville Road.

During the course of researching my book, I encountered what surely must have been one of the earliest chain bakeries in Columbus. Hansen’s Bakery Company outlets were located at 3358 Indianola, 1404 Cleveland Avenue, 3135 North High Street, 3387 North High Street, and 3514 North High Street, in the 1920s. Peter A. Hansen lived at 207 West North Broadway from 1923 to 1957. I was unable to unearth additional information about this bakery.

The diaries of M. Gladys Bolon Cooper written from age 40, in 1939, until her death in 1989, are held by Ohio State University archives and have been transcribed and posted to the web. The writer was a Clintonville resident.

This is a view of brick-paved Tulane Road looking east, in 1937. The street was sparsely developed at the time. Note the Olentangy Park roller coaster ride in the background. (Photo courtesy of Galen Gonser)

The 46-acre Indian Springs Golf Course extended east of High Street to Indianola, north of East Cooke Rd and south of Schreyer. It opened as a 19-hole course in 1931 and closed circa 1947 as a 9-hole course. The Indian Springs Village subdivision was built in this location around 1947. (Photo courtesy of Columbus Metropolitan Libraries)

Immaculate Conception has been stabilizing force in my neighborhood since it began in 1915. In this picture the old rectory is demolished to make way for a new construction. Over the years, the school, the convent, the rectory and the church have been expanded, and a community center have been added. (Photos courtesy of Immaculate Conception)

Beechwold Barbecue, 4784 North High Street. “The home of choice barbecue & toasted sandwiches, special Italian Spaghetti dinner. After the theatre or after a dance, drive out to the most popular barbecue in Columbus. Auto parking space. Come hear the wonderful Violano Virtuoso.” [Photo from a 1939 North High Memory Book advertisement]

Maple Grove Church in 1939. Originally owned by John Buck, by 1842 the property on the southwest corner of today’s Henderson Road and North High Street was owned by Chauncey Cooke. Chauncey leased the lot to the directors of Clinton Township School District No 1, and the lease contained the clause “to have and to hold said demised premises as long as they shall be used for school purposes.” A clause was also added “that the lot and building to be erected thereon shall be used for Public Worship by any Christian denomination for the accommodation of the neighborhood.” Lore has it that the lease was not recorded but was held by the Clinton township clerk for a number of years, and the late Mr. L. L. Pegg found it in the corn crib of the township clerk in the year 1919.

Merrick Funeral Home was located at 3099 North High Street, approximately across the street from Clinton Chapel a.k.a. the Armbruster home. I believe you can see this fine building in other images of that section of North High Street on this web site.