Worthington Historical Society

Worthington Historical Society The Worthington Historical Society is dedicated to creating experiences that inspire interest in Worthington history.

by preserveing and interpreting local history, maintaining historic sites, and providing community education.

Then & Now - 1976 to 2026Built in 1915, this home at 160 East Granville Road is an example of early twentieth-century ar...
09/14/2026

Then & Now - 1976 to 2026

Built in 1915, this home at 160 East Granville Road is an example of early twentieth-century architecture in Worthington. Ruth Griswold, daughter of Worthington and Fondelia Griswold, had the home built and it reflects the growing popularity of the bungalow style residential design during the early 1900s in America. It features the hallmarks of the style including a wraparound porch.

It is notable that Ruth Griswold did not build the home as her residence but as an investment property, renting it to a series of tenants for many years, while she continued to live in her family's "Griswold Tavern" on the northeast Village Green.

The house is also connected to notable local and national history. In 1918, former President Theodore Roosevelt visited the home while calling on General Charles L. Cooper, who lived in the home at the time. Ruth Griswold had befriended General Cooper's daughter Florence Moore when she was in Denver for nursing school and the General was an advisor to the Colorado National Guard. After finishing nursing school in Denver, Miss Griswold lived in Philadelphia with the Cooper family while working as a nurse at a nearby hospital. By 1915 the Cooper family moved to Worthington, renting Ruth's home, where Mrs. Moore attended to her bedfast father. On Sept. 30, 1918 Teddy Roosevelt visited Cooper at the home, as he was the officer who mustered Roosevelt’s “Rough Riders” into service in the Spanish-American War. Cooper died October 1, 1919 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Ohio Open Doors in Worthington is on Sunday, September 13th from 1-4 PM. Join us for FREE admission and tours at each of...
09/09/2026

Ohio Open Doors in Worthington is on Sunday, September 13th from 1-4 PM. Join us for FREE admission and tours at each of the sites listed. Details can be found at https://worthingtonhistory.org/event/ohio-open-doors/. We hope to see you there!
Find all statewide events at ohiohistory.org/opendoors.

100 Years Ago Today....September 9th, 1926The Worthington News shared the recent donation of a model of John Fitch's ste...
09/09/2026

100 Years Ago Today....September 9th, 1926

The Worthington News shared the recent donation of a model of John Fitch's steam engine to the Ohio State Archeaological and Historical Museum (now the Ohio History Connection) after being stored in a local attic for years. The article tells the remarkable story of John Fitch, the often-overlooked inventor who successfully developed and operated the first steam-powered boat decades before Robert Fulton’s famous Clermont. Born in Connecticut in 1743, Fitch overcame a difficult childhood, limited education, and numerous hardships to become a surveyor, inventor, and explorer. Inspired by the need for better transportation on America’s frontier, he devoted himself to harnessing steam power for navigation.

In 1785, Fitch built the first successful working model of a steamboat. By 1787, he had completed a full-sized vessel that successfully traveled on the Delaware River, and by 1789 his steamboat was carrying passengers between several Pennsylvania and New Jersey communities. Despite these achievements, Fitch struggled to gain financial support from Congress and investors. Repeated setbacks, failed business ventures, and an unsuccessful trip to France left him discouraged and impoverished. He died in Kentucky in 1798, never receiving the recognition he deserved.

The article’s connection to Worthington comes through Fitch’s original working steamboat model. In 1849, the model was discovered in the attic of the James Kilbourne home by Fitch’s descendants. Preserved as a historic treasure, the model was later donated to the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Museum, ensuring that Fitch’s pioneering contribution to transportation history would not be forgotten.

To read the full article in the Worthington News and other news visit https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p16007coll97/id/519/rec/1

Then & Now - 1976 to 2026The Ozem Gardner House at 8221 Flint Road is seen here 50 years ago, and today after significan...
09/08/2026

Then & Now - 1976 to 2026

The Ozem Gardner House at 8221 Flint Road is seen here 50 years ago, and today after significant preservation efforts by the Walnut Grove and Flint Union cemeteries who purchased the property in 2017.

Ozem Gardner arrived in the Flint area from New York in 1817 and eventually purchased 65 acres along Flint Road. An active member of Worthington’s Anti-Slavery Society, Gardner operated an Underground Railroad station on his property and is believed to have assisted more than 200 enslaved people on their journey to freedom in Canada beginning as early as the 1835. He began operations out of a log cabin and then built the structure seen here in the mid-1800s.

The home later became the residence of Henry Hancock, believed to be Franklin County’s first Black sheriff’s deputy, who also operated a funeral police es**rt business for more than four decades. The historic homestead is an important part of the Underground Railroad story, and was added to the National Park Service National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom this year.


Underground Railroad Network to Freedom

100 Years Ago Today....September 2nd, 1926The Worthington News ran a story about the "Home Grocery" and its success, inc...
09/02/2026

100 Years Ago Today....September 2nd, 1926

The Worthington News ran a story about the "Home Grocery" and its success, including a photograph of the interior 100 years ago today. This is not to be confused with the later "Home Market" which opened in 1930. The Home Grocery was located at 672 High Street (pictured) in a building that no longer stands.

The paper wrote, "Pictured above is an interior view of the store. Reading from left to right are W. W. Sherburn, Mgr., Arthur Hoffman, R. H. Smiley.

An increase of 30% in sales is the record made by W. W. Sherburn, wlio assumed the management of the Home Grocery less than five months ago. Mr. Sherburn who came to Worthington from Columbus is a practical and tranied grocer, having had several years’ experience in the business, and was manager of a large store at Columbus before coming here.

In his long experience he has made a study of the business from all angles and has specialized in the selection and handling of good meats. His pleasing personality and strict attention to business have won him a host of friends here. Mr. Sherburn attributes his success to good service, fair and courteous treatment to the public, newspaper advertising and especially the fact that he has restocked the store with quality merchandise made by the most reliable and dependable firms....

Mr. Sherburn is ably assisted at the store by the genial and courteous R. H. Smiley who needs no introduction, having been a resident of this community his entire lifetime.

Arthur Hoffman, a Worthington young man, has recently been employed at the store as clerk and deliveryman.

The Home Grocery is a home owned store having been purchased by Harry Leasure from the C. F. Volmer and Co., in June, 1925."

Read the full issue here:https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p16007coll97/id/916/rec/1

Then & Now - 1976 to 2026The historic building at 115 Park Road began as the Flint Universalist Church, which was organi...
09/01/2026

Then & Now - 1976 to 2026

The historic building at 115 Park Road began as the Flint Universalist Church, which was organized by local resident John Potter and dedicated in 1872. For decades, it served as a gathering place for worship, community events, and Sunday school before becoming inactive in the early 1940s.

In 1943, the former church was purchased by Romney Lehman, who hoped it would continue serving the community as a meeting place. By the 1960s, the building found new life as Country Church Antiques, later operating as Attic Heirlooms Antiques. Today, after restoration efforts, the Flint landmark continues its long history of as an event venue, 115Park .

In 1976, for the U.S. Bicentennial celebration, a series of photographs were taken around Worthington, including businesses and residences. Throughout 2026, this series will take a look at what has changed and what has stayed the same, as we celebrate America 250!

100 Years Ago Today....August 26, 1926The sale of Sharon Township's Potter Schoolhouse on East Granville Road was announ...
08/27/2026

100 Years Ago Today....August 26, 1926

The sale of Sharon Township's Potter Schoolhouse on East Granville Road was announced in the newspaper 100 years ago today. The schoolhouse was sold by the Worthington Board of Eduction to Mr. Harvey Tilton, who did live at 1403 East Granville Road for several decades following this purchase.

By the mid-19th century there were 13 one-room school sub-districts in Sharon Township. However new legistation over the second half of the century required schools that divided classes by grade and later necessitated the establishment of high schools. In November of 1921, the Sharon Township Board passeed a resolution to consolidate graded elementary schools, and by the following year constuction contracts were signed for Homedale and Minerva Park consolidated schools, which replaced the remaining one-room schoolhouses.

Address

50 W New England Avenue
Worthington, OH
43085

Opening Hours

Wednesday 1pm - 4pm
Thursday 1pm - 4pm
Friday 1pm - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 2pm

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