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Clintonville
Just before the beginning of the 20th Century, a majority of Columbus residents lived downtown. However, that was beginning to change. Professors from the new Ohio State University (this was before they officially started calling it "The" Ohio State University), began building summer homes in the areas around the ravines on the east side of the Olentangy River in an area that is today the unincorporated neighborhood that lies north of The Ohio State University.
Visitors were lured into the country to enjoy the Olentangy Amusement Park , and later, the short lived Columbus Zoo Amusement Park (opened in 1904 north of Wetmore and south of Morse Rd.). With the arrival of the automobile, developers turned the area farms and wood lands into more than 80 subdivisions - eventually constructing thousands of new homes.
Clintonville is named for Clinton Township in which Clintonville is at the approximate center. Clinton township was named for US Vice President George Clinton (VP to both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison). However, when the name was placed on this land, it had no inhabitants. In 1813 a minister-farmer named Thomas Bull purchased some 600 acres. He was living in the village of Worthington at the time. Once the land purchase was secured, he moved his family down from Worthington and began to farm the land. The problem was, there were no other people nearby that could lend a hand or take care of the cows if they decided to take a vacation. To remedy this situation, Bull's eldest son built some small houses along what is now High Street, centered around an area about a block north of North Broadway (Oakland Park). Bull offered these house free to anyone with a skill who promised to hang around and contribute to the community (and maybe take care of the cows every once and a while).
One notable building is the Southwick Funeral Home at 3100 N. High Street. Originally, it was called the Clinton Chapel which was built in 1838. Part of its historic relevance is that the Chapel was a stop on the Underground Railroad that helped direct escaped slaves from the south on their way to freedom in northern Ohio and Canada.
In 1847 Clintonville had a post office dedicated. This date, September 13 is the unofficial date of Clintonville's birth.
One of Clintonville's unique features is its ravines. These were created by glaciers as they advanced and retreated across central Ohio 50,000 years ago and again 16,000 years ago. The ravines include Glen Echo, Walhalla, and Overbrook (Adena Brook). Two others, the Granden-Torrence and the Old Beechwold-Rustic Bridge have been graded over but still shape the landscape.
Today, along High Street, there are an abundance of antique boutiques, art galleries, and coffee shops. Whetstone Park and the Whetstone Park of Roses are also located within the unofficial borders of Clintonville. A regular non-event can be seen on almost any Saturday, and that is protestors of one kind or another protesting various grievances at the corner of High Street and North Broadway. Grab a sign and protest something.
Clintonville's Farmer Market
Each Saturday morning from 9am to noon, during the growing season through October, you can visit the Clintonville Farmers' Market. Farmers at The Clintonville Farmers’ Market are “niche” farmers. This means they don’t produce everything the cook requires but every product they produce is top quality. Produce sold at the Market is truly fresh! It is picked less than 24 hours before the opening moments of the Market. Participating farmers live and grow their products within 15-75 miles of Columbus. The produce at a farmers’ market is grown for flavor, taste and nutrition—not for travel.
The market is set up on the west side of North High Street, just a few blocks north of North Broadway between Oakland Park Avenue and Dunedin.
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