Clintonville Book, Author at Clintonville History

Who wouldn’t want to live here?

“The natural beauty of these lands would inspire even one not familiar with the business of platting of allotments. The elevation of this tract is nearly 920 feet above sea level. The middle section of these lands slope both east and west and to the south, thus giving the sunny side of the hill in winter and the shady side in Summer. The view from the top of the hill is the most magnificent and inspiring sight in or around Columbus. The rolling valley of the Olentangy River, dotted with beautiful forest trees, bungalows and other types of homes, show a real masterpiece of Nature’s Handiwork. Back of the beautiful valley the rising hills continue for miles and miles. The view in any direction from this beautiful location is almost without bounds…This new tract will be known as the Dominion Park Addition.” –from The Dominion Land Company Columbus Home News, May 1913, Volume 1 Number 2.

Caption: Dr. D.G. Sanor residence at the entrance to the Indian Springs Addition

Clintonville Book2008-10-03T09:18:12+00:00October 3, 2008|Categories: 1900-1940, Houses|Tags: Charles Johnson, Overbrook area|0 Comments

Voting

According to a transcript of a WBNS-Radio broadcast salute to Clintonville on May 27, 1959 and reprinted in The Clintonville Historical Society’s January 2009 issue of its newsletter, Clintonville Heritage, Clintonville’s first voting booth was located at the corner of Weber and High, and on Election Day, the Ladies Aid Societies would work all day, serving hot dinners to the farmers who came to vote.

Clintonville Book2008-10-03T09:16:45+00:00October 3, 2008|Categories: 1900-1940, Houses, Organizations|Tags: South of Broadway|0 Comments

On Como

Como has a venerable history. The house of one of the Bull family members was located on Como; the oldest house in Clintonville is reputed to be there; Howard Westervelt (founder of North Broadway Methodist Church) lived there.

This charming house is located at 57 West Como and was built around 1903. The picture was taken sometime before 1926. (Photo courtesy of Verna Rogers)

Clintonville Book2008-10-03T09:16:14+00:00October 3, 2008|Categories: 1900-1940, Houses|1 Comment

“It’s Great Fun”

The river was a favorite skating spot in the early part of the century. Children also sledded on East North Broadway, and on “Mooney hill” at 259 Walhalla Road. In the summertime, there was a swimming hole colloquially called Bare-ass Beach in what is now Whetstone Park plus a legendary skinny-dipping spot in the river at the “Holt farm” near the C.D.& M. Interurban line’s Stop 18 around Lincoln and High. (Photo courtesy of Amy Westervelt)

Clintonville Book2008-10-03T09:15:52+00:00October 3, 2008|Categories: 1900-1940, Parks & Recreation|Tags: Olentangy River|0 Comments

Longview Barber Shop

In 1918, after serving in WWI, Tom Pletcher came to Columbus hoping to find a job as a barber. Jimmy Kinnaird, a pharmacist at the corner of Brighton and North High Street, rented Pletcher a store room at the rear of the pharmacy. Pletcher ran the barbershop on Brighton (above) from 1919, and in 1921 moved to larger space at 3311 North High Street. After becoming ill, he sold the business in 1943 to a long-time employee named Bill Morgan. The barber shop moved again, in 1980 to 3325 North High Street. (Photo courtesy of the Clintonville Historical Society)

In 1945 Pletcher recovered and purchased a red brick building at the southeast corner of Beechwold and High, and opened another barber shop. Pletcher died in 1963, and that barbering business was subsequently sold.

Clintonville Book2008-10-03T09:10:29+00:00October 3, 2008|Categories: 1900-1940, Businesses|Tags: Clintonville Historical Society collection|0 Comments

Overcrowding–always

We tend to think of the use of prefabricated buildings for temporary quarters a new idea, but it seems to be as old as our township schools. I have found pictures of old World War I military barracks, and also portable voting booths, used for schools all over Clintonville. Our Lady of Peace used both types of buildings. Glenmont Elementary School began life as a cluster of portable schools. Clinton Elementary School handled overcrowding with temporary buildings. Shown here are some portable voting booths at the old tile factory along Arcadia (where North High School presently stands). (Photo courtesy of Wallie Palmer)

Clintonville Book2008-10-03T09:05:14+00:00October 3, 2008|Categories: 1900-1940, Businesses, People, Schools|0 Comments

Mathias Armbruster

Mathias Armbruster was born in Wurtenburg Germany in 1839 and came to the U.S.A. in 1858. He operated Armbruster Scenic Studios in Columbus—he painted scenic theatrical stage sets. Armbruster purchased the area around what is now known as Walhalla Ravine, and converted Clinton Chapel at 3100 North High Street into his private residence. His son Albert’s house was just north of Mathias’ home, where the parking lot for Southwick-Good-Fortkamp funeral home now is. Mathias eventually sold most of the acreage to a real estate developer, and helped name the streets after his beloved Wagner Ring Operas.

Mathias died in Columbus in 1920. Here he is shown looking west from the cupola on his roof. (Photo courtesy of Leeann Faust)

In the center, a view of High Street taken from Armbruster’s cupola; Olentangy Park is in the background. (Photo courtesy of Leeann Faust)

The photo on the right shows Albert Armbruster’s house. (Photo courtesy of Leeann Faust)

Clintonville Book2008-10-03T09:00:08+00:00October 3, 2008|Categories: 1900-1940, Houses, People|Tags: Clinton Chapel|8 Comments

Floor Plan–3100 North High Street

The building at 3100 North High Street, originally Clinton Chapel and presently a funeral home, was converted into a residence in the late 1800s by Mathias Armbruster. Leeann Faust’s mother–a descendent of Armbruster–sketched out “before and after” floor plans for 3100 North High Street, from memory. “Before” represents the floor plan when Mathias Armbruster lived there. “After” is the floor plan as modified by subsequent resident Uncle Jack Sullivan ca. 1920. The second floor was converted into apartments. I’m including both Leeann’s mother’s first draft, and her “cleaned up” versions.

These are the floor plans after Jack Sullivan modified the residence. The 2nd story had been converted into apartments and aren’t shown here.

(Photos courtesy of Leeann Faust.)

You can search this site for “3100 North High Street” or “Armbruster” for more pictures of this building.

Clintonville Book2026-02-24T19:01:45+00:00October 3, 2008|Categories: 1900-1940, Houses|Tags: Clinton Chapel|1 Comment

More Armbruster Photos

Leeann Faust gave me some additional images of the Mathias Armbruster home at 3100 North High Street.

This photo shows the north side, kitchen door, and the house’s well below the arch. The verso of the photo says “Aunt Flora Armbruster Neilson”.

The verso of this photo says, “Back of 3100 North High Street [home of Mathias Armbruster] / Steps from Walhalla to Pergola”

Pauline and Katrina facing west from the kitchen door at 3100 North High Street.

“Garden and Pergola / North side of [3100 North High Street].”

This picture shows Albert’s house, located just to the north of 3100 North High Street.

Another view of Albert’s house taken from the north window of 3100 North High Street.

(Photos courtesy of Leeann Faust.)

Clintonville Book2026-02-20T15:50:33+00:00October 3, 2008|Categories: 1900-1940, Houses, People|Tags: South of Broadway|0 Comments

North Congregational Church

This church is not in Clintonville, but because it is so close to Clintonville I could not resist including North Congregational Church located at East Blake and East Avenues, on this website. The photograph was taken in 1900. (Photo courtesy of Judy Cohen)

Clintonville Book2008-10-03T01:00:45+00:00October 3, 2008|Categories: 1800s, Churches|Tags: North Columbus|4 Comments

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