(story published circa October 1996 by Marylee Bendig)

Winter was in its final hour and spring had not yet arrived to the area known along the canal route as Wert’s Grove and Rarey’s Port when the name “Groveport” was chosen for the newly incorporated village.

According to the book, “History of Madison Township Including Groveport and Canal Winchester, Franklin County, Ohio,” by George Bareis that same year, on April 17, 1847, an election was held and Abraham Shoemaker was named mayor; Abel Clark, was named recorder; and J.P. Bywaters, E.M. Dutton, William Mitchell, Samuel Sharpe and C.J. Stevenson were named trustees.

The first council meeting was held less than two weeks later at Shoemaker’s home.

The first ordinance passed made it unlawful to obstruct any street or alley, followed by an ordinance making it the duty of owners of lots fronting Main Street to make sidewalks by the following November.

The third ordinance made it unlawful to run horses, a common pastime, on the streets or alleys or to engage in fighting, brawling, quarreling, shooting of guns or pistols or otherwise, unnecessarily disturbing the peace and quietude of the town.

Nearly three decades had passed when the need for a town hall was brought to voters in an election held April 5, 1875. The residents were queried as to the necessity of building two town halls, one at Winchester and the other at Groveport. The Winchester residents voted down the town hall with 107 votes in favor of it and 180 against. The Groveport voters favored the town hall, with 211 votes expressing approval and 87 expressing disapproval.

That same year, a committee was formed to oversee the building of the new town hall. J.H. Harris of Columbus was employed as architect.

The next order of business was deciding the best location for the new structure. Selecting the site was not an easy task as proposals were received.

John F. Wildermuth proposed to give his corner lot located at the southeast corner of Main and Walnut Streets with the use of one of the store rooms for 10 years. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows No. 205 proposed to give a deed for the corner lot on Main and Front streets for $450. J.V. Conklin proposed selling the land on the northwest corner of Main and Walnut streets for $1,500.

After a ballot vote, the proposal of the I.O.O.F. was chosen.

Building costs were as follow:

-Madison Township was to pay $9,116 for the first story.

-The village of Groveport was to pay $650 for the second story.

-The I.O.O.F and the Free and Accepted Masons N. 240 were to pay a total of $1,050 for the third story.

William McCoy was awarded the contract and the building was completed the following spring.

The first occupants located on the first floor of the town hall were H.H. Scofield and Co. with dry goods on the east side of the building and Theodore Faulhaber’s grocery store located on the west side. The odd Fellows and Masons occupied the third story of the building.

2025:

For nearly 150 years Groveport Town Hall has served the community well housing government offices as well as a hosting cultural and arts events, organizations, and civic functions.

Today the Groveport Town Hall houses the Groveport Heritage Museum, art gallery, and a cultural arts center with arts and education classes for the whole family.

There are two floors that can be reserved by individuals or corporations, often hosting weddings and musicians.

The Heritage Museum displays historic artifacts and memorabilia dating to the early 19th century. A special area is devoted to the original horse whisperer, John S. Rarey, and a photographic display of the merger of two canal towns in 1847: Wert’s Grove and Rarey’s Port.

Town Hall hopes to have a cheerleading display later this year.

To find more events happening at Town Hall visit https://www.groveport.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Groveport-Town-Hall-1

Call Town Hall at 614-836-3333 and verify their rental policies and what can be held there. It has changed over the years.

Want to learn more Groveport history?

•Two documentary films on the history of Groveport, produced by the Groveport Heritage Society and Midnet Media, are available for viewing online on YouTube. The films are: “Groveport: A Town and Its People” and “The Story of John S. Rarey and Cruiser.”

•Books on Groveport history include:

“The Changing Village,” by Richard Palsgrove;

“Groveport and Madison Township Ohio,” by Richard Palsgrove;

“History of Madison Township: Including Canal Winchester and Groveport,” by George Bareis; and

“Life Along the Ohio Canal: Licking Reservoir to Lockbourne and the Columbus Feeder,” by David Meyer.