Historic Histories of Homes in German Village
Enjoy learning about your historic home through GV Ohio Histories publisher David Randall!
East Beck Street
East Beck Street
Hi Dave - Where were you born, raised and educated?
I was born in Mansfield, Ohio and a proud graduate of Mansfield Malabar High School in 1965. I did both my undergraduate and graduate work at Ohio State University. Prior to my retirement in 2005, I worked as an administrator and a clinical counselor for the State of Ohio in both the Departments of Corrections and Developmental Disabilities. My interest in history goes back to my earliest days in Mansfield thanks to some inspiring teachers. There was also a lot of local history in Mansfield, starting with it being the home base of Johnny Appleseed for a period of time. This caught my interest.
Historic Histories of Businesses in German Village
When did you get involved with German Village and surrounding areas historic research:
My involvement in the history business in Columbus started with my first week of retirement. My wife Alison decided that the best way to get me off the couch was to encourage me to research the history of our German Village home., which was something I had talked about. After searching the City Directories at the library for our home address, it dawned on me that researching all the homes and shops in the Village would be an interesting pursuit. It took me four years, but I managed to create a database covering the names and occupations of the folks who lived in the fifteen hundred homes in our special neighborhood going back to the Civil War.
My involvement in the history business in Columbus started with my first week of retirement. My wife Alison decided that the best way to get me off the couch was to encourage me to research the history of our German Village home., which was something I had talked about. After searching the City Directories at the library for our home address, it dawned on me that researching all the homes and shops in the Village would be an interesting pursuit. It took me four years, but I managed to create a database covering the names and occupations of the folks who lived in the fifteen hundred homes in our special neighborhood going back to the Civil War.
Historic Workers of German Village
After finishing this database, I began German Village House Histories about ten years ago. In that time we have completed about four hundred histories, which can be seen by going to our website: gvhousehistories.com. This started out as a way to keep busy and make a little money. Despite my efforts, there has not been much profit. I guess that makes it an unintentional nonprofit of sorts. In the last year, I have concentrated on researching families who have lived in the area, both in German Village and the surrounding communities 100 or more years ago. My hope is to put these remembrances on a website but I have also enjoyed sending these, at no cost, to the current occupants of the homes I have researched. I have done this house by house, street by street, though I invite anyone who wants to find out about a family who lived in their home (in or outside German Village) 100 or more years ago to send me their address at gvhousehistories@gmail.com.
Historic Couples of German Village
I have lived in German Village since 1976, and at my present home on East Beck Street for over forty years. For much of the last fifteen years, Alison and I were known as the owner of Abbey, our chow mix, who passed about a year ago. She was more famous in the neighborhood than we were by far. In April, we are getting a Keeshond puppy, Tara, who we are anxious to show off. We look forward to living in and researching this special place for many more years. to come.
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Publishers Note: Dave researched my home and I found out from him that there was a house on my lot in 1864. My house was built in 1883, which means someone tore down the original house and built another structure. He also showed me a map from 1872 which shows a house outline that is different from the house on my lot. I thought it all started in 1883 and that information was quite a surprise. It is very fun to find out who lived in your home through the years.
Check out the website for gvhousehistories.com and email gvhousehistories@gmail.com if you are interested in information about your German Village home or business.
Check out the website for gvhousehistories.com and email gvhousehistories@gmail.com if you are interested in information about your German Village home or business.
CREATIVE GV House Histories - David Randall Issue VII
