Pure Oil at Hudson & Indianola

September 26th, 2008

This diminutive Pure Oil gas station was located at the corner of Hudson and Indianola. It had an outdoor lift instead of service bays. The pump globes say Purol and Detonox, indicating the photograph is from the 1920s. Service bays were added to the station later in the decade. Union 76 purchased Pure Oil in 1965, and completely refashioned the station.

Bartlett’s Garage

September 26th, 2008

Tom Bartlett was a leading Clintonville businessman. His garage at Kelso and High existed for many years. (Photo courtesy of the Clintonville Historical Society)

Mooney house

September 26th, 2008


The white house visible from Calumet Street over the Walhalla Ravine bridge has such strong neighborhood presence. It was one of the first houses built along the ravine. It’s now known colloquially as the “Mooney House” after a physician who lived there for many years. Though rumored to have been the site of a tragedy and to be subsequently haunted, the rumor is most definitely false.

Crestview Foodtown

September 26th, 2008

In my book I wrote about Crestview Foodtown, presently the Clintonville Community Market. The building has had many lives: at one time it was a Red & White (market), a Piggly Wiggly, and a Kroger’s. At one time there was a barber shop downstairs; and in the late 1920s the corner was a drugstore.

Sarah Breunig, community leader

September 26th, 2008

This house at 200 Glenmont is now gone, but it originally belonged to Sarah Breunig and her husband. Sarah moved to Clintonville as a young wife, before Glenmont was paved and before indoor plumbing. Sarah became one of the original community leaders of the Overbrook area. Sarah was a founding and active member in the Maple Grove Methodist Church, the Glenmont Community Club, Navy Mothers, and the Clintonville Women’s Club. She became the first female president of the Glenmont Community Club in 1968. (Photo courtesy of the Kerchner family)

Stella Wilson house

September 26th, 2008

The Glenmont Community Club first met on March 2, 1921 at 45 Glenmont to “discuss improvements pertinent to the community.” It met at the Stella Wilson home; Stella was head of the science department of the old High School of Commerce (later known as Central High School) and had purchased the house in 1920 at the age of 58. Miss Wilson served as secretary and remained a primary force in the Glenmont Community Club until her death. Stella’s sister Ida was a physician; Ida acquired the house in the 1930s after Stella died. (Photo courtesy of the Kerchner family)

Lehman Machine

September 26th, 2008

During Clintonville’s early years, it had many parades and this is one of the floats. The back of the photograph is labeled the “Lehman Machine” (machine was another name for automobile). According to the 1923 city directory, there was a David and Hattie Lehman living at 47 West Brighton Road. David was a sales manager for the Iron Clay Brick Company, and Hattie was a hemstitcher. (Photo courtesy of Amy Westervelt)

Brighton Road wins in parade for second time!

September 26th, 2008

“Several thousand residents take part in North Side Field Day Celebration! Enthusiasm high!

“On a hot and sunny Saturday, June 2, 1923, the North Civic Association sponsored its annual celebration. Brighton Road, owner of the previous year’s wreath, captured first honors in the parade for the second time, while Longview Avenue challenged for second place. Brighton Road received $50 and Longview, $25.00. The impersonation of a number of historical and present prominent men was the feature of Brighton’s representation. The first prize for the best decorated automobile also went to this street, which produced a car encased in pink roses…”—from the Columbus Dispatch Sunday June 3, 1924

Patterson House

September 26th, 2008

Novak Funeral Home is today a handsome presence along High Street. The house was built in 1927 by a man named B. F. Patterson, who also built two other near-identical houses on East Dominion for his children—one of brick, and the other a frame colonial house. (Florence Patterson Ruine lived at 27 E Dominion, a Dutch Colonial.) The house’s architect was V.S. Julian. Patterson was politically active and at one time ran for mayor of Columbus. The house was at one time surrounded by a wrought-iron fence. In 1953 the building became Beechwold Nursing Home, an enterprise which was closed in 1980. The building sat empty for 7 years. Novak purchased it and rehabbed the building, an effort requiring 13 months and who-knows-how-much money.

Korn family

September 26th, 2008

David and Alta Korn built a home at 4891 High Street, in old Beechwold, in 1920. They had an adopted son named William. The family was adversely affected by the Great Depression and lost their Old Beechwold house in 1932. This photo shows Alta and a child along the river. William raised his family in Clintonville and died in 1986. (Photo courtesy of the Clintonville Historical Society)