The centerpiece exhibit at the Grove City Welcome Center and Museum is a pristine 1912 Ford Model T donated by Joan Eyerman and her late husband, Louis. The vehicle first entered the building Sept. 19, 2009 becoming the first exhibit at the newly created museum. For many years it was a popular attraction at the September Arts in the Alley Parade. The vehicle is now on permanent display inside the museum. Joan and Louie purchased the car in 1985 from Earl Trego who had purchased it in 1941 from Carl DeLong who is believed to have been the original owner. The museum is a partnership between the City of Grove City and the Southwest Franklin County Historical Society. It’s open free to the public Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until Noon.

These days when a circus comes to Central Ohio its usually inside an auditorium, not under a big tent. That was different in Grove City in 1959 when the Grove City Lions Club brought the Mills Brothers Circus to town. The three-ring circus, with a crew of nearly 500, set-up their tents for two shows at Windsor Park. A circus calliope attracted a crowd to the 3,000-seat big top tent for shows that included aerial acts, clowns, a herd of performing elephants, other animal acts and feature attractions.

Just in time for America250, we’ve added plenty of new audio files to our Oral History website page! Many thanks to the Grove City Historical Commission, who record talks with local citizens about their personal memories. We’ve partnered with them to make them available online. If you’re staying inside to avoid this week’s heat wave, check it out!

https://www.swfchs.org/oral-history

It’s time again for our summer Open House Events. This Saturday, June 27 from 2-4p, SWFCHS staff will provide fascinating info as you tour each of the historical buildings at Century Village on Orders Road. Admission is free (donations gladly accepted).

Not many years ago, much of Grove City was farmland where corn, soybeans, grains and hogs were raised. Most of those acres now grow families in new housing developments. The Grove City Farmers Exchange in the downtown was an important destination for area farmers and their families, a place where they could shop, visit and discuss crops. Today, that same building is a place to shop for antiques, dine at a popular restaurant or patronize other businesses within the old structure. The Grange was another important place where farmers and families could meet and exchange ideas. Once such meeting place was the Borror’s Corners Grange Hall. In 1899, snakes, women’s rights andsanitary arrangements on the farm were principal topics on the program. Learn more about Grove City’s past in a 200-page pictorial history available at the museum, 3378 Park Street.