Homeowners participating in the GVS Haus und Garten Tour 2024
received training on how to research the history of their residence at the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
received training on how to research the history of their residence at the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
Photo Credit Kyle Haines (unless otherwise noted)
Carmen Regina Wood Co-Chair of the Haus und Garten Tour 2024 invited me to join her and Co-Chair Mike Wood and some of the owners of tour homes on this investigative journey.
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When the instructor was telling us how to search Columbus Dispatch Historical and Current, I offered my address. The first article that popped up was about my home's fatal cellar steps! The wife of the first owner of my house, Trautmann, fell down the steps and died from a broken neck. A few months later, the home had a new owner, Walz, and her mother also fell down the same staircase and broke her leg in two places.
I think the sinister stairs were in the interior of the house (currently converted into a closet, the entrance to the stairwell, which has two different types of wood flooring). Luckily for me, it no longer exists!
I think the sinister stairs were in the interior of the house (currently converted into a closet, the entrance to the stairwell, which has two different types of wood flooring). Luckily for me, it no longer exists!
There are many historic resources at the library, on the third floor, regarding Columbus housing and residents. The information can be accessed by physically going there, talking to assistants, and combing though books and computer terminals or go online via https://www.columbuslibrary.org/research-tools/ and search for the following:
Sanborn Insurance Maps
Directories
Historic newspapers such as the Columbus Dispatch
Atlases
Census
Many other resources
Sanborn Insurance Maps
Directories
Historic newspapers such as the Columbus Dispatch
Atlases
Census
Many other resources
Photo credit Carmen Regina Wood
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1872 Caldwell's Atlas of Franklin Co.
and of the City of Columbus, Ohio: from actual surveys
and of the City of Columbus, Ohio: from actual surveys
I leafed through the 1872 Atlas to find German Village. Here is part of the detail of the area. It shows the layout, street names, existing buildings and an effort to show the shape of the structures.
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Above is a comparison of the northwest corner of German Village in 1872 vs now. Notice that Second Street is now Blenkner, Third Street is Hoster, Parsons Street (West of Mohawk) is Fourth Street etc.
https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/german-village/2013/02/06/the-naming-columbus-streets/23232187007/
In the Columbus Dispatch article you will find some GV area streets that received their current name in 1872:
Livingston Avenue (South Public Lane)
Parsons Avenue (East Public Lane)
Lazelle Street was added on to with both (North and Straight Alleys)
Beck Street was created from three west to east roadways (Fourth Alley - between High and Third, Division Street - between Third and Poor House Street after which turn north to South Lane which ends up at Parsons)
Columbus Street (Oak Alley)
Livingston Avenue (South Public Lane)
Parsons Avenue (East Public Lane)
Lazelle Street was added on to with both (North and Straight Alleys)
Beck Street was created from three west to east roadways (Fourth Alley - between High and Third, Division Street - between Third and Poor House Street after which turn north to South Lane which ends up at Parsons)
Columbus Street (Oak Alley)
A map of Columbus from 1865
A closer look at German Village and Schumacher Village from the 1865 map
Head over to or Google the Columbus Metropolitan Library and check your home history out!
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HOUSE Digging up Historical House Information ISSUE XXXIX
