October 2025.
The North Columbus Commercial Historic District is a stretch of historic commercial buildings along High Street in Old North Columbus. It is the remnant of the city of North Columbus’s main business strip, and it features excellent examples of Italianate and Commercial style architecture.
The North Columbus Commercial Historic District is located in the Old North Columbus neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, centered on High Street. It is bordered by Dodridge Street to the north, Hudson Street to the south, and alleys to the east and west.
History
I’m omitting much of the NRHP listing/preservation plan’s history regarding Old North itself, which I’ll include in the neighborhood’s individual article instead. For this post, I will focus solely on this stretch of High Street and the buildings on it.
What is now High Street north of downtown Columbus 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. 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.
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. When it was officially incorporated (the date on which this happened is unknown), even more businesses opened there.
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).
1916 photo of the C. F. Jones Grocer Co., at 2581 North High Street. (Clintonville History)
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. 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.
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.
Interior of the Kroger’s grocery store at 2579 North High Street. (Clintonville History)
As Columbus’s population grew north of downtown, however, North Columbus’s commercial district began to be developed into its present form. Larger, more substantial buildings 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. 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 streetcar system and nearby Olentangy Park.
In the 1910s, 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. 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.
The corner of Hudson Street and High Street in 1930. (Clintonville History)
With the closure of Olentangy Park and its replacement with Olentangy Village in 1938, and the end of streetcar service in 1945, North Columbus was no longer the northern boundary of the city of Columbus. However, despite the growth of suburbs and strip malls in post-World War II America, this stretch of High Street remained stable commercially. These included the same business types as mentioned prior, along with fraternal organizations such as the Neoacacian Freemasons, Knights of Pythias, Redmen, and Sioux Tribe.
Old 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.
A White Castle restaurant (since demolished) north of the historic district in 1976. Note the large Italianate building in the background at left, which has been demolished. (Columbus Metropolitan Library)
Although this part of High Street may not be as vibrant of a commercial district as it used to be, it still retains a high occupancy rate, and its buildings remain in good condition. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. However, based on the 1980s photos present in the 1988 Preservation Plan of the area, several buildings standing at that time have since been demolished.
Photos
Jack & Benny’s (2563-2573 North High Street)
1945 photo of the building. (Columbus Metropolitan Library)
A more modern Tudor Revival building, this structure was built in 1925. The east side facing High Street is commercial in character, notably housing the longtime tenant Jack & Benny’s, a breakfast restaurant. One of the earliest tenants was Mykrantz Drugs in the 1920s, and the above image shows the Hudson-High Pharmacy at the corner. The storefronts in that area remain largely original and maintain their glass prism transom windows, but the northernmost storefront has been heavily altered. On the south side along Hudson Street is a series of apartments.
Viewed at an angle from the north:
Stone relief above the High Street entrance:
One of the Tudor Revival gables with faux half-timbering:
South facade of the commercial portion, which is plainer and largely brick:
Love these apartments that are attached, which are symmetrical:
Haynes Block (2575-2577 North High Street)
1984 photo of the exterior, which is largely identical to its current appearance. (Library of Congress)
The Haynes Block was built from 1891 to 1892 in the Italianate style, with vaulted windows and a massive cornice. The storefronts are original and highly intact, with remaining glass prism transom windows, wood framing, and windows. However, the second-floor windows have been replaced and the third floor has had its openings infilled with brick.
The building has housed several different businesses, such as Seiller’s drugstore, Kroger’s grocery store, and the Crystal Theatre, an early “nickelodeon” movie theater.
The storefronts aren’t in the greatest condition, but it’s a wonder that the original ones even still exist.
You have to feel for these poor windows. What would compel someone to replace original wooden windows with brick?
The owner of this building was also the sole objector in listing the historic district on the National Register, writing several passive-aggressive letters to the historical society suggesting that his constitutional rights were violated. (He seems to be a lawyer.) Here is his office:
At least the metal cornice, very large in its scale, remains intact:
I just love a good old giant cornice on an Italianate building. This historic district scratches that itch pretty nicely.
Attic window and stone relief above:
Dirty Dungarees (2584 North High Street)
Originally the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company and now a laundromat, this Commercial-style building was completed in 1929. It has been heavily altered, painted gray, and customized with (likely legally painted) graffiti art. While Dirty Dungarees is a laundromat for most of the day, it is also a concert venue and bar at night.
Graffiti on the north facade:
Schreiner Ace Hardware (2585 North High Street)
Circa 1985 photo of the building. (Columbus Metropolitan Library)
Unlike the neighboring Haynes Block, this Italianate building is rather boring, with no ornamentation whatsoever on its facade. However, it may be possible that some decorative elements were removed over the years. It was built between 1872 and 1887. Early tenants included Burhart’s Economy Store, Seely’s Variety Store, and Dick Hardware.
Schreiner Hardware has been in the building for 80 years, as they opened inside the building and expanded into the southern storefront to take up the entire first floor in 1946. The storefronts have been heavily altered with modern windows and finishes.
Neon sign, which has been updated with modern lettering:
Fireside Building Loan & Savings (2593-2595 North High Street)
The NRHP listing attributes this circa 1914 building as a Beaux-Arts design, though it has some holdovers of Italianate design such as the cornice and vaulted windows. It was built for Fireside Building Loan & Savings and later became Homer Miller Jewelers. It consists of two modules, a one-story southern portion (mostly out of frame) at 2593 N High and a two-story northern area at 2595 N High. The original storefront framing and transom windows (hidden by the awnings) are also seemingly intact.
2598-2604 North High Street
Circa 1920 view of the building. Its tenants at that time were Zann & Sammet Grocery, Clevenger Wallpaper, and Pfeiffer Grocery & Bakery. (NRHP listing)
These three Italianate storefronts all appear on the 1891 Sanborn map, but the leftmost bay’s different window pattern and the slight seam in the brickwork indicate that it may have been built at a later time. The wooden bulkheads and two iron Corinthian columns from the original store framing are all still intact, but the rest of the building has been heavily altered with paint and modern windows.
Remaining original storefront framing:
Along with the historic bulkheads, I also liked the modern mosaic of pottery shards that makes up the stoop here:
Crosby’s Home Care (2599-2609 North High Street)
This Commercial-style building was built circa 1914, and it was originally occupied by R. C. Buckholtz’s grocery store and later C. E. Warren’s bakery. Although the ornamental details on the facade remain, the storefront has been altered. It has Craftsman-like brickwork portals around each entrance, the portals also having inset terra-cotta tiles with unique designs:
Crosby’s Drugs (2607-2609 North High Street)
The building that Crosby’s now calls home was built in 1925 and has some late Beaux-Arts detailing in limestone. Crosby’s has occupied the building since the late 1950s, making it only second to Schreiner Hardware for the oldest business in the area.
There is a slight gap between this building and its neighbor, which likely provides access to the apartments upstairs:
This sign is stylish and likely pretty old:
Ledo’s Tavern (2606-2610 North High Street)
One of the modern-day saloons lining this stretch of High Street is Ledo’s, which is a little far from campus to qualify as an “Ohio State bar” or appear on bar crawls. It was built circa 1913 and is mostly Commercial in style, though the NRHP listing attributes the decorative brick and tile work as more Craftsman in character. The storefronts have been replaced with wooden panels, and the glass prism transom windows have been painted over and obscured by an awning. Some of the earlier tenants here included John Bower Hardware, Tyler Drug Store, and Olentangy Pharmacy.
Ace of Cups/Northern Savings Bank Company (2619 North High Street)
The building in use as a Huntington bank. (Columbus Metropolitan Library)
An early example of Stripped Classical architecture, this building was constructed for the Northern Savings Bank Company in 1922, which operated until the 1960s. Their earlier home was in the Ramlow Block. The marble and entrance design both date to the 1950s.
Looks like I caught the sign dude in action…lol:
I didn’t take a picture of the Redmen’s Lodge north of AoC on the other side of the street (it’s a relatively uninteresting Commercial-style building), but I thought their vintage sign was interesting:
It’s got the classic mid-century cross pattern, too.
C. Ramlow & Son Dry Goods/Bower General Store (2643 North High Street)
This circa 1870s Italianate building is characterized by its massive cornice and detailed hood molds. It was originally occupied by C. Ramlow & Son, namesake of the nearby Ramlow Block and Ramlow Alley. A later tenant was Bower General Store, which also built the warehouse extension presently clad in stucco at the rear of the building. The storefront alterations were noted to have occurred before 1976 in Architecture: Columbus.
This cornice is by far the best on the entire block. Its titanic scale compared to the diminutive two-story building is a very excellent contrast.
The corbels, modillions, and corner flourishes are just fantastic. I can’t get enough.
C. H. Seeger & Company Building (2647 North High Street)
Another Commercial design, this one was built for Seeger’s dry goods company, which occupied the entire first floor. The storefront was altered in the mid-20th century with aluminum-frame windows and a modern bulkhead design.
Harmon Drugstore (2653 North High Street)
This Italianate building was recently renumbered, and it was formerly 2651 N High. Anyways, it was built circa 1880 and occupied by M. M. Harmon’s drugstore that decade. Later, one Dr. Gratthouse had an office inside. Although the storefronts have been altered, the original stone framing is intact, and practically everything above the first floor besides the windows appears as it did in 1880.
These circular, floral metal medallions are interesting:
Brick corbels, stone hood molds, and metal cornice details:
Another shot of the cornice:
Ramlow Block (2661 North High Street)
A soaring Italianate building similar in stature to the Haynes Block, the Ramlow Block was built a year prior (1891). Its owner, Catherine Ramlow, moved her dry goods store from nearby 2643 N High to this larger building, operating there until World War I. The taller third floor was used as a meeting space for local fraternal organizations, such as the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias (who remained until the 1980s), and the International Order of Red Men. The storefronts and windows are not original, but the decorative stone trim and metal cornice remain.
Other historic businesses inside the building included Northern Savings Bank, M. W. Strait Furniture Company, and the Ravari Room. It is currently Hounddog’s Pizza.
Lots of fun architectural elements here--metal string course, rusticated stonework, vaulted windows, etc.:
A closer look at the stone:
These windows also have rough brick panels beneath them, which I thought was interesting:
Detail of the metal cornice and attic window:
The carvings here have aged very nicely for being 135 years old. The cornice must have taken the brunt of the acid rain over the years.
Note that the carvings and form of this window are very similar to the Haynes Block featured earlier in this post.
The cornice has a sort of “false-front” effect, though, as it conceals the gabled roof:
I always thought this Tudor-ish appendage on the north side of the building was interesting:
The north facade maintains the same window pattern as the High Street side, but it lacks the arched windows, and several openings have been bricked up:
The gabled roof here makes the building seem like an Italianate house scaled to be twice as large.
Not sure why the south facade, and only the south facade, is stuccoed over:
Hounddog’s also has a vintage Cadillac that they keep parked in the back, which is pretty cool:
Old North is spoiled to have a historic district as beautiful as this one, and it is untouched from millennial burger restaurants and microbreweries at that.
Sources:
Columbus Neighborhoods by Tom Betti
Architecture: Columbus by Robert Samuelson
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71988569
https://clintonvillehistory.com/tag/north-columbus/
https://digital-collections.columbuslibrary.org/digital/collection/p16802coll19/id/9616/rec/31
https://digital-collections.columbuslibrary.org/digital/collection/ohio/id/11815/
https://loc.gov/pictures/resource/mrg.05043/
https://digital-collections.columbuslibrary.org/digital/collection/p16802coll28/id/205656
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