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Check Your Trash
Mark Schmidbauer Mark Schmidbauer

Check Your Trash

This editorial cartoon appeared in The Grove City Record in the 1970s in an effort to discourage residents from placing debris and trash at curbside before the collection date. The problem had become widespread and generated complaints from adjacent properties. The artist, a local insurance agent, created his art using the name, J. Greenleaf Leak.

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Thomas’ Party House
Mark Schmidbauer Mark Schmidbauer

Thomas’ Party House

Rush and Opal Thomas’s Party House on Columbus Street was the destination for parties, receptions, special events and Sunday dinners. Reservations were required. Today, the stately brick house is the office building for the Grove City United Methodist Church.

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M. J. Mercier
Mark Schmidbauer Mark Schmidbauer

M. J. Mercier

The sound system at Union Station, the old railroad depot in Columbus, was created and installed by a Grove City resident, M.J. Mercier. He also had secret contracts with the military during World War II that required military guards posted at his property.

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Ferris Wheel
Mark Schmidbauer Mark Schmidbauer

Ferris Wheel

In the 1970s, Gooding Amusement Company agreed to bring a 100-foot double Ferris wheel as the featured attraction at the Grove City Community Fair at Windsor Park; that ride was usually only available at state fairs or large county fairs. Grove City’s event qualified because it was drawing very large annual crowds. In 1975, it was estimated nearly 50,000 people visited five-day, free admission event.

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Movie time
Mark Schmidbauer Mark Schmidbauer

Movie time

When the 14-screen cinema first opened in the new shopping center on Buckeye Parkway it was known as the Rave Theatre owned by a corporation out of Texas. AMC later purchased the theatre. The first movie theatre in town was the Kingdom Theatre in the Town Center, now Little Theatre Off Broadway. It showed silent films before being converted to “talkies.”

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