An article in the Sept. 19, 1958 edition of the Ohio State Journal newspaper states the former Concord Methodist Church on SR 665 and Hoover has held religious services since 1849. A log structure first occupied the site. Today, the old church building stands as a veterinarian clinic. It was 109 years before the first wedding was held inside the church; Miss Phyllis Minton married William Cookham. She wore a formal gown of white satin and lace; 56 invited guests attended.

Four men wanted the honor of being the first elected mayor after Grove City received city status June 5, 1959. The city became Ohio’s 150th city. The charter went into effect July 1, 1959 while Ernest Hysell was mayor so, in fact, he was the first mayor to serve the city. The four who wanted to be the first elected included, Hysell, the incumbent; George Haughn, president of council; Paul E. White, five-term former mayor; and Anton C. Patzer, president of First National Bank and president of the Lockbourne Farmers Exchange. Just weeks after the announcement, Hysell withdrew citing health issues. It was a close election. Patzer, pictured, a newcomer to the local political scene, was elected by one vote. The unofficial tally was Patzer 819; Haughn 818; White 577.

The greyhound emblem came about with assistance from a high school parent named Gansley who was the Greyhound bus terminal manager in Columbus. His family lived on Midland Street. He arranged permission for the school to use the bus company logo. His wife was a long-time employee of The Grove City Record.

A group of citizens in November 1957 were complaining to Police Chief E. L. Evans and municipal officials that the police department was too large with too many police officers. The chief answered the complaints pointing out FBI standards showed Grove City’s department was inadequate and not large enough. About that same time, the police department had acquired a speed meter electric timer that was accurate to 1/600 of a second. Speeding violators were charged $1 for every mile over the speed limit, according to Chief Evans.

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.