There’s a playground on Arbutus Avenue south of Kingston Avenue called Cread Lawless Park, but few residents today know the history of the name. Marshal Cread Lawless, a lifetime resident of Grove City, started to build his home on Arbutus during World War II when construction material was in short supply. For years, he and his wife, Ruth, lived in a small cinder block garage until building materials were available to finish the house they occupied throughout their life. Cread was introduced to Beulah Park early in life. His mother did the laundry for all jockeys at the race track and the track eventually became the place he worked many of his adult years. His first job at Beulah Park was working with eight other men moving the starting gate from Grove City to other Ohio horse tracks. At the end of a race meet, the track was moved to Lancaster and as far away as Ascot Park near Cuyahoga Falls. It was towed behind a truck and guided on the road with a steering wheel similar to that on a ladder fire truck. One race day job he disliked was monitoring and directing traffic at the curve in front of St. John’s Lutheran Church on Columbus Street, a frequent bottleneck. He said he was often called everything but a gentleman working that location.

Weddings have gone through many traditions over the years from simple services in the bride’s home to extravagant ceremonies costing thousands. Some of the early traditions would be considered out of character today but most were in fun and a way for a community to celebrate. One tradition after a church wedding required the groom to take his bride for a ride in a wheel barrow down the street lined with cheering people throwing rice but one of the most popular celebratory events in the early township days was a chivaree or belling. That was something most newly married couples knew about but hoped it wouldn’t be something they would experience on their wedding night. A chivaree or belling was a noisy celebration of friends and family who gathered outside the home of the newly married couple waiting until the lights inside were turned off. Then the noise started and continued until a light was visible from inside the house. After the chivaree tradition ended, those attending the wedding turned their attention to the vehicle of the bride and groom by tying tin cans and other noise makers to the rear of their escape vehicle.

SWFCHS has just rolled out an online store, with items ranging from publications from local authors to home decor and more! All items will be available via pickup ONLY—no shipping is available. The next time you’re at the Grove City Welcome Center and Museum, check out the gift shop, and then you can make a purchase via the online store using a credit or debit card.

Help us raise money for our historical projects and ongoing work.

https://www.swfchs.org/store

Our friends at Ohio Magazine gave the Society a shout out for Old Time Harvest Day, coming up this Sunday! It’s at Century Village on Orders Road from 12-4p. Hope to see you there! @ohiomagazine

https://www.ohiomagazine.com/travel/article/fall-in-grove-city-2026

This Sunday, October 4th from 12p-4p at Century Village on Orders Road—

Old-Time Harvest Day in Grove City gives today’s generation a look into life in Ohio during the mid-1800s.

Experience living in history with a variety of hands-on demonstrations and exhibits of traditional crafts and daily chores including leather tooling, quilting, rope making, quilling, tin smithing, corn husking, shelling and grinding.

Plan to experience:

-The Clover Club 4H group with animals.
-Hands-on exploration of skills, chores, and games from times gone by.
-Historical buildings including a one-room schoolhouse, log cabin, general store and barns.
-The Village herb garden, windmill and antique equipment.
-Metalworking demonstrations on a traditional forge in the blacksmith shop.
-Period music.
-Admission and parking are free.