Local College

An effort by the Rev. Dale Galloway, pastor of the Grove City Church of the Nazarene, was instrumental in an effort to bring a college to the city in 1966. Proposals pointed out that the city was an exceptionally desirable site because the city was centrally located within a three-state area and the close proximity to Columbus. The college would draw students from Ohio, West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky where 550 Nazarene churches were located. The school would initially have a two-year program before expanding to a four-year university. Grove City held a strong position for the school until Mt. Veron and London entered the picture. Five cities eventually entered the bidding process. Grove City eventually lost out when Mt. Vernon made a pitch on matching fund for land purchases that Grove City couldn’t match. Grove City’s best offer in real estate purchase assistance was $3,000 an acre.