A Trip Around Columbus: Groveport/Canal Winchester
What name do you like best? Wert's Grove or Rarey's Port? People in the 1830s were confused as to what to name the tiny little village southeast of Columbus. But, to the east, was another piece of land that was tied to the Ohio and Erie Canal.
Groveport started out as two communities- Rarey's Port, founded by William Rarey, and Wert's Grove, founded by Jacob Wert. There was a dispute about the land and the communities, most notably the operation of a post office. In 1847, the name Groveport was suggested by Dr. Abel Clark. The rest is history. The village was built along the Ohio Canal, which opened in 1831. Warehouses and mills were built along the canal, and in 1868, the railroad came through Groveport.
When the workmen of the Ohio and Erie Canal built the Canal through the wheat field of Reuben Dove, the workmen persuaded Reuben Dove to lay out a town, after Dove wanted to sue Ohio. Canal Winchester was born in 1828, named after the Ohio and Erie Canal and Dove's father's native town of Winchester, Virginia.
In 1851, the Village became part of Madison Township, and it was incorporated in 1866.
The railroad helped bring an economic boom to Canal Winchester, when the railroad depot was built in 1869.
One of the most notable tales of Groveport is that of Cruiser. Cruiser was a black stallion trained by John Solomon Rarey in the 1860s. At the height of his fame, Rarey built a mansion, known as Cedarlawn, which at the time cost 23 thousand dollars. Groveport became known as the "Home of John Rarey and Cruiser". Cedarlawn would later become the Elmont Hotel. Cruiser Since the 1920s, Cruiser has been the nickname and mascot for the Groveport Madison High School athletic teams.
Today, Groveport is home to several warehouses, and the Motts Military Museum- a military artifact museum. Groveport is in close proximity to Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Rickenbacker International Airport, Three Creeks Metro Park, and the Village of Obetz.
Canal Winchester is a Preserve America Community. Four of Canal Winchester's historic districts are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Just south of the village, the Slate Run Historical Farm is a living trip back in time to the 1800s. The Barbers Museum and Hall of Fame, Mid-Ohio Doll and Toy Museum, and Historic Downtown Canal Winchester are among the highlights and attractions to the community.
Canal Winchester has a weekly farmer's market in the growing season, a Blues and Rib Festival the first Weekend of August, a Labor Day Festival, and Christmas in the Village in early December.
Sources:
CITIES: Canal Winchester, Columbus, and Groveport
SCHOOL DISTRICT: Canal Winchester City Schools, Columbus City Schools, and Groveport-Madison Local Schools
BUS ACCESSIBLE: Yes (COTA – Line 11: Oak/Bryden and Line 89: Hamilton Road)
SCHOOLS: Canal Winchester High School (300 Washington St., Canal Winchester), Canal Winchester Middle School (7155 Parkview Drive, Canal Winchester), Indian Trail Elementary School (6767 Gender Rd., Canal Winchester), Winchester Trail Elementary School (6865 Gender Rd., Canal Winchester); Easthaven Elementary School (2360 Garnet Place, Columbus), Independence High School (5175 Refugee Rd., Columbus), Liberty Elementary School (2901 Whitlow Rd., Columbus); Groveport Madison High School (4475 S. Hamilton Rd., Groveport), Groveport Madison Middle School Central (751 Main St., Groveport), Groveport Madison Middle School North (5474 Sedalia Drive, Blacklick Estates/Columbus), Groveport Madison Middle School South (4400 Glendening Drive, Groveport), Asbury Elementary School (5127 Harbor Blvd., Blacklick Estates/Columbus), Dunloe Elementary School (3200 Dunloe Rd., Blacklick Estates/Columbus), Glendening Elementary School (4200 Glendening Drive, Groveport), Groveport Elementary School (715 Main Street, Groveport), Madison Elementary School (4600 Madison School Drive, Blacklick Estates/Columbus), Sedalia Elementary School (5400 Sedalia Drive, Blacklick Estates/Columbus), Cruiser Academy (2747 Winchester Pike, Columbus); Hamilton Township High School (1105 Rathmell Rd., Obetz), Hamilton Middle School (755 Rathmell Rd., Obetz), Hamilton Intermediate School (765 Rathmell Rd., Obetz), Hamilton Elementary School (745 Rathmell Rd., Obetz), Hamilton Altenative Academy & Hamilton Pre-School (775 Rathmell Rd., Obetz); Eastland Career Center (4465 S. Hamilton Rd., Groveport)
LANDMARKS/PLACES OF INTEREST:
Columbus Metropolitan Library – Southeast Branch (3980 S. Hamilton Rd., Groveport)
Eastland Mall (2740 Eastland Mall, Columbus)
Fort Rapids Water Park (2100 Hilton Corporate Drive, Columbus)
Groveport Aquatic Center (7370 Groveport Rd., Groveport)
National Barber Shop Museum (2 S. High St., Canal Winchester)
Rickenbacker Airport (7161 2nd St., Columbus/Lockbourne)
Slate Run Historical Park (1375 Winchester Southern Rd, Canal Winchester)
Smith Farm Market (3341 Winchester Pike, Columbus)
Three Creeks Metro Park (3860 Bixby Rd., Groveport)
Town Hall (648 Main Street, Groveport)
Wagnalls Public Library (150 E. Columbus St., Lithopolis)
Canal Winchester: http://www.canalwinchesterohio.gov/
Canal Winchester Blues & Rib Fest: http://www.bluesandribfest.com/
Canal Winchester Chamber: http://www.canalwinchester.com
Canal Winchester Labor Day: http://www.cwlaborday.org/
Canal Winchester Schools: http://www.cwschools.org
Destination Canal Winchester: http://destinationcw.org
Eastland Mall: http://www.eastland-mall.com/
Friends of Slate Run Farm: http://www.friendsofslaterunfarm.org/
Groveport: http://www.groveport.org
Groveport, History of: http://www.touring-ohio.com/central/groveport/groveport.html
Groveport-Madison Schools: http://www.gocruisers.org
Groveport Parks & Rec: http://groveportrec.com/
Hamilton Local Schools: http://www.hamilton-local.k12.oh.us/
Lithopolis: http://www.lithopolis.org
Lithopolis Honey Festival: http://www.lithopolishoneyfest.com/
Madison Township: http://www.madisontownship.org
National Barber Shop Museum: http://www.nationalbarbermuseum.org/
Obetz: http://obetz.oh.us/
Obetz Zucchini Festival: http://www.obetzzucchinifest.com/
Preserve America: Canal Winchester: http://www.preserveamerica.gov/12-26-07PAcommunity-canalwinchesterOH.html
Rickenbacker Port Authority: http://rickenbackerinlandport.com/en/
Smith Farm Market: http://www.smithfarmmarketohio.com/
Southeast Franklin County Chamber: http://www.chambersefc.com
Wagnalls Library: http://www.wagnallslibrary.org/