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.

Four newspapers have served Grove City and Southwest Franklin County. The Grove City Blade (1894-1898) was the first. When L. E. Parsons began his newspaper, he offered a free one-year subscription to the person who brought the largest ears of corn to his office. In 1895, he reported horse races were being held on a half-mile track, 65-feet wide owned by the White family and by 1897 he wrote about a new pipe organ at St. John’s saying its chimes could be heard for miles from its steeple. After seven years with no local newspaper, The Grove City News (1905-1910) served the community but little is known about that publication. It would be another 16 years before C. Carl Williams and his brother, Henry, arrived in Grove City to open their publishing firm, The Grove City Record. Both men had prior newspaper experience in Mt. Sterling. An interesting turn of events occurred in 1970 that involved a new restaurant at Westland Mall. The advertisement read: “Best Damn Hamburgers in Town.” By today’s standards it would be no concern but it caused an uproar with readers. Williams said the office telephone rang constantly from morning until mid-afternoon. In the next edition, he and the advertising agency expressed an apology for reader concerns. The ad for The Fatted Café was changed in the next issue to “Best Darn Hamburgers in Town” and there were no complaints. William’s company also owned The Skyhawk, a weekly newspaper at Lockbourne AFB, a series of all advertising publications under the name of Shopper Times and The Fair Times. He also published the Lions Roar, a newspaper for the Grove City Kiwana’s Club and a newspaper for a World War I veterans’ organization. The Record was the primary news source in the community until Earle F. Moore, owner of the Columbus Messenger Company, expanded his operation into Grove City much at the insistence of Grove City resident Ray Stark. The Record was absorbed into the Dispatch family of ThisWeek publications and eventually discontinued. The Messenger still publishes every other week.