herr2ck: Columbus - Old North Columbus

Photos vary, from October 2025, January 2026, & March 2026.

Old North, the neighborhood I lived in during my final two years in Columbus, is a quieter place compared to the rambunctious University District. The neighborhood was settled as its own separate city, North Columbus, before its annexation into Columbus in 1871. It has some pretty interesting architectural landmarks, many of which I’ve visited. It hasn’t really been hit by gentrification like German Village or Olde Towne East, either.

Old North Columbus is located on the north side of Columbus, Ohio. It is bordered by Glen Echo Creek and Clintonville to the north, Lane Avenue and the University District to the south, the railroad tracks and North Linden to the east, and the Olentangy River and Ohio State’s athletic complex to the west.

History

Old North Columbus has no recorded activity, if there even was any, prior to 1800. At that time, the area was still settled by the Wyandotte and other Native American tribes, using a trail called the “Way of the Warriors” to travel from hunting grounds near the Ohio River to fishing spots near Sandusky. The first American settlers arrived in 1800, the Hess, Lisle, and Henderson families, who lived on the west side of the Olentangy River. The first residents on the east side of the river were the Hunter, Vance, Herdoff, Droddy, Smart, and Beers families.

The Beers mill circa 1880. (Columbus Metropolitan Library)

David Beers, of the latter family, was particularly important in Old North Columbus’s story. He was born in New Jersey but was kidnapped by Native Americans at seven on his way to Ohio, though he was released during the French and Indian War at the age of 14. Beers and his wife Elizabeth moved back to Ohio with their nine children in 1803, and he built a gristmill on the Olentangy River in 1810, saving local farmers a trip to Chillicothe 65 miles away. His cabin and the mill became the center of a small commercial area built up between 1811 and 1815, in particular because the former was used as a trading post for Native Americans and local settlers. This led to the organization of Clinton Township in 1811, which was between Franklinton to the southwest across the Scioto River and Worthington to the north. Columbus itself was established to the south a year later in 1812.

Joseph Guitner’s residence, drawing from 1872 but house likely older, an example of the early housing fabric of North Columbus. (Columbus Metropolitan Library)

Along with Beers’ mill, what is now High Street in Old North was first laid out as a wagon trail as early as 1816, which was on the high banks of the Olentangy and avoided its regular flooding. On December 7, 1820, the state of Ohio authorized the construction of a road from the city of Columbus to the north end of the then-rural Clinton Township (where Clintonville and Beechwold are today, along with Old North). This road soon became part of a larger route meant to connect Columbus, the newly established state capital, to Lake Erie. Early residents of the Old North area who had houses nearby established the Columbus & Sandusky Turnpike Company, which obtained state funding to build the pike. It was completed in 1834, originally with toll gates lining the street, though the road soon grew rutted and muddy. Locally, it was known as the Worthington Pike. The road was replaced by the Columbus & Worthington Plank Road in 1849, which extended further north to Delaware. It had similar issues being reported as early as 1852, such as warped planks.

Clinton Township had a population of 969 in 1840, most of it being centered on North Columbus’s commercial strip, itself the midpoint between Columbus and Worthington. Early businesses focused on needs of travelers, such as repairs for wagons, products for their horses, and comforts for the travelers themselves. The growing commercial presence led Solomon and George Beers to plat North Columbus as its own city in 1842. The Worthington Pike and Centre Street (now Neil Avenue) were the north-south streets, and five other east-west streets were laid out: First Street, Second Street, Third Street, Fourth Street, and North Street. Most of the area’s residential development was centered here, although the plat was only a portion of what was known as North Columbus, and more land was set aside for future growth.

A copy of the original plat of North Columbus. (Columbus Metropolitan Library)

When North Columbus was officially incorporated (the date on which this happened is unknown), even more businesses opened there. By the time David Beers died in 1850 at the age of 104, he had lived to see Clinton Township reach 1,186 residents. His sons did not officially register a plat of the settlement until 1852, but by 1856, a map of the township shows it was the only platted area there, and the residential area had expanded east of the turnpike in 1859. At that time, businesses included a sawmill, flour mill, slaughterhouse, and hotel. Notably, many of North Columbus’s new residents were Welsh immigrants.

The Civil War brought even more growth to North Columbus. A Union Army camp known as Camp Thomas was established on the east side of the Worthington Pike in 1861, which operated until the war’s end. At a peak of 6,000 soldiers and other occupants in the camp, this large contingent of North Columbus’s population must have had a stimulating effect on the local economy. After the Civil War ended in 1865, the North Columbus Railway Company was established by local businessmen (including miller J. J. Rickly), which was then authorized to build a streetcar line northward from Columbus’s northern terminus at Chittenden Avenue and High Street (near the southern border of Ohio State today).

Circa 1880 photo of the Columbus Sewer Pipe Company. (Columbus Metropolitan Library)

One of the earliest major businesses in North Columbus was the Columbus Sewer Pipe Company, which was built on the site of the current Dominion Middle School (formerly North High School) in 1869. It was a major employer of residents and stimulated the economic growth of the area, as the Glen Echo Creek had a unique type of clay that lent itself to the manufacture of sewer pipes.

Map of North Columbus in 1872. (Columbus Metropolitan Library)

North Columbus was officially annexed into Columbus in 1871, although discussions of doing so had begun taking place in the 1860s. The Neil family (who owned farms in the area), governor William Dennison, and the businessmen of North Columbus all advocated for its annexation. After the process was complete, Worthington Pike (now High Street) was paved and now ran from downtown Columbus to North Columbus. Additionally, the previously-mentioned street names were duplicates of streets that were already in Columbus, so they were renamed to Tompkins, Hudson, Duncan, Dodridge, and Neil Avenue. However, it is important to note that the newly established Ohio Agricultural & Mechanical College (later The Ohio State University) and its stretch of High Street remained undeveloped until the early 20th century. Still, it closed the gap between the city of Columbus and North Columbus’s southern boundary.

Although North Columbus was now a part of the city of Columbus, it still remained separated from the downtown area geographically, and it kept its character from earlier in its history. The local businesses were still owned and operated by descendants of the original founders and local settlers, and they chose to live in the North Columbus area despite streetcars making “streetcar suburbs” possible.

1916 photo of the C. F. Jones Grocer Co., at 2581 North High Street. (Clintonville History)

As Columbus’s population grew north of downtown, however, North Columbus began to be developed into its present form. Larger, more substantial buildings on High Street were constructed in the late 19th century, which replaced older houses or frame buildings and were built out of brick and tile made from clay from the local Slate Run (now Glen Echo Creek). Some of these businesses included C. Ramlow & Son’s general store, M. M. Harmon’s drugstore, at least four saloons, hardware stores, dry goods stores, blacksmiths, liveries, doctors’ offices, and wagon manufacturers. High Street outside of the historic district was further augmented by the new North High Street Carhouse for Columbus’s recently electrified streetcar system and nearby Olentangy Park. Business was not the only new development in North Columbus, as new civic structures such as Medary Avenue Elementary School and Engine House No. 13 were built for the growing population, and Tompkins Street was paved with blue brick.

The corner of Hudson Street and High Street in 1930. (Clintonville History)

Ohio State’s growing enrollment was another driver for residential development in North Columbus. The farmland separating the two was gradually subdivided into lots for houses, and it soon expanded northward to the settlement’s original boundaries. Most houses and buildings south of Hudson Street were built between 1900 and 1920. The commercial district remained burgeoning with tenants. These included four grocery stores and six specialty/variety stores, two drugstores, two banks, and 23 saloons, along with the early Crystal Theatre. Along with these stores, smaller diners and sandwich shops operated for Olentangy Park visitors. A decade later, new buildings were built and included newer styles such as Tudor Revival and Craftsman. Additionally, new automobile-related businesses began to operate on High Street at that time. Despite the Great Depression, many of these local businesses continued to thrive.

Cox’s Market & Variety Store, one of the mid-century businesses in Old North. It has since been demolished. (Columbus Metropolitan Library)

With Clintonville’s eventual annexation into Columbus, and the closure of Olentangy Park and its conversion into Olentangy Village, North Columbus was no longer the literal “end of the line” for the streetcars or the city of Columbus. Still, despite postwar trends in automobile-focused development and shopping malls, North Columbus remained a popular place to live and shop. North Columbus saw the typical demolition of part of its streetscape in the 1950s for parking lots, but this primarily affected the areas south of Hudson and north of Dodridge. However, there is still a large gap missing from Duncan Street to Ramlow Alley.

Although Old North Columbus has lost its identity as a separate city, it still retains its smaller mom-and-pop style businesses while lacking overpriced millennial burger restaurants. The North Columbus Commercial Historic District is very historically intact and includes several interesting buildings, and the houses are quiet and on streets lined with trees. In 2010, two arches in the style of those in the Short North were built at High and Norwich and High and North. Hopefully this character continues to remain.

Photos

As usual for these “dump posts,” this post covers a greater distance in less depth. Other places I have covered in more detail in this area include Dominion Middle School, Glen Echo United Presbyterian, Holy Name, Medary Avenue Elementary, and the Portal to Hell.

Bretton Hall (4-12 East Norwich Avenue)

These Arts & Crafts apartments were built in 1912, according to the county auditor’s website. Interestingly, the building has carved stone details that are Gothic Revival in style.

Brickwork and shield motif:

Greek cross ornaments, parapet, brickwork, and the building’s name:

Nice oblique view from the southeast:

St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (30 East Norwich Avenue)

This little church with a tall, stalwart stone facade on its south end was built as St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church by architect Robert R. Reeves. Interestingly, it combines Romanesque Revival (south facade and portal) and Gothic Revival (windows and nave structure) features. Architecture: Columbus dates it to circa 1930. The county auditor’s website claims it was built in 1923, but the Sanborn map gives a date of 1927 instead. An addition was built onto the rear of the church in 1960.

It seems that the St. Luke’s congregation left this building in 1995, as it was sold to St. Clare’s Chapel, Inc. that year. It remained a church until 2011, when the process began to convert it into apartments. St. Luke’s still exists on Morse Road.

This portal is undoubtedly Romanesque, judging by its round arch and receding columns:

Viewed from the southeast:

I like the little secondary tower attached to the facade.

Cornerstone:

David Beers Log Cabin (40 East Norwich Avenue)

Historic photo of a more dilapidated version of the cabin. (Columbus Dispatch)

Remember David Beers, one of North Columbus’s earliest settlers? Well, his original log cabin amazingly exists to this day. The oldest portion of the house was built in 1804, near the northwest corner of High Street and Dodridge Street. In 1899, the cabin was purchased by bicycle racer Conn Baker and his brother Herman, and the two moved it to 40 East Norwich Avenue for use as a painting studio. It remains at that site today, but it has been altered and added onto.

Today the cabin is tucked away on a large lawn, with most of it littered with student detritus.

The roof is modern, with a large acrylic skylight:

The portion to the right with the perpendicular gable is the original cabin, while the projection forming a T is the addition. It has a sort of Greene & Greene, Arts & Crafts-like expression to it with the porch and balcony.

The walls still use that well-known log cabin construction, though.

Opposite end:

60 East Norwich Avenue

These spartan Gothic Revival apartments were built circa 1930. Although the facade is rather unremarkable, the entrance portal is absolutely slathered with ornamentation.

The level of detail here is very remarkable for such a mundane building.

The rear of the building is pretty bare, with unremarkable brick construction and rusted steel window sashes:

Same deal on the opposite end, plus a large chimney:

Ramlow Alley Company Housing

I was intrigued by this row of worker’s cottages on Ramlow Alley during my trip to the North Columbus Commercial Historic District. According to columbusrailroads.com, it was company housing likely built for workers at the nearby North High Street Carhouse. Sanborn maps do not go this far north until 1921, but according to the 1910 and 1920 Baist maps, these houses were built between 1910 and 1920.

Central Vineyard Church (Welsh/North Congregational Church)

Circa 1900 photo of the church. (Columbus Metropolitan Library)

This church was originally established by Welsh immigrants, which were a large ethnic group in Columbus. The existing wooden Renaissance Revival church was built in 1893 as the North Congregational Church, though the congregation relocated from an older 1874 church known as the Welsh Congregational Church, apparently styled as a “Quaker meeting house.” It was known as “The White Church” due to its whitewashed exterior.

In 1956, the building was acquired by the Columbus Calvary Association of God, and by 1983 it was owned by the Columbus Camera Group. Central Vineyard has owned and used the church since 2004, and a Contemporary metal-clad addition was built onto the southeast side in 2017.

Usually, wooden churches like this one are Gothic in style (“Carpenter Gothic”) or more eclectically Victorian. However, this church appears to be a Renaissance Revival design, with Palladian windows and vaguely pedimented roofs with modillions.

The tower has been pretty heavily altered:

West side:

Global Community Church (North Columbus Methodist Episcopal Church)

This church was established due to differences of opinion within the Welsh Congregational Church. They originally had services (“cottage prayer”) in Tilman Grim’s house on High Street, and in 1881 they began the neighborhood’s schoolhouse, the “District School.” Their first church was a small brick chapel built at the southeast corner of High Street and Duncan Street in 1882. Afterwards, it was united with the nearby Clinton Chapel congregation and became the North Columbus Methodist Episcopal Church.

With the new electric streetcars and extension of the line to Arcadia Avenue in 1893, more families could travel north for church services, and a larger church building was soon needed. The congregation relocated to its current site and built a new brick church, which was completed in 1896 at a cost of $14,000. This church burned down on March 10, 1929, due to an overheated furnace. Many parishioners had felt extremely hot during services that day.

The existing church building began construction in May 1931, and its cornerstone was laid on October 11, 1931. It was designed by Ralph Orr in the Gothic Revival style. As usual for churches at the time, it was built piecemeal, with different parts being completed at various times when enough money was appropriated. Its stained glass windows were from Columbus-based Von Gerichten Studios. The sanctuary was used for services for the first time on April 21, 1935, and the building was completed shortly thereafter. An addition to the west, Zinn Hall, was dedicated in 1952.

The south facade is largely stone, but there is also a large pointed window in the center:

Stained-glass window:

The tower is rather short compared to the larger plan of the building:

250 Cliffside Drive

I saw this fun Tudor Revival house on my trip to Glen Echo United Presbyterian, and it’s possible that it may have been built as their rectory. It was built circa 1925 and has a stucco exterior, stone window surrounds (now painted green), and a slate roof.