There were many ideas put forward for a park in the Town Center on the old library property across from the police department on Park Street. The most creative and elaborate was offered by Rebecca Sommer a local businesswoman and accomplished artist. It was to be called Hope Park with a statue and lighted fountain.

Did you know that when Grove City opened its skate park on Hoover Road that skaters from as far away as Chicago drove here to experience the new venue?

There were several livery stables, blacksmith shops and wagon builders in Grove City’s past. One such business was H. Barthold’s Blacksmith Shop located on the southwest corner of Arbutus and Park Street where a park is located today. Another was located on Grove City Road (pictured) where Fred Hensel was blacksmith.

When Robert D. Grant, a brother of A. G. Grant, turned 17, he joined the 182nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company E as a private. He fought along side with the soldiers through the end of the war. The men in blue had no other option to clean themselves than to use lye soap, when available. During the war, a Cincinnati company won a contract to provide a new type of soap to the soldiers. That soap today is known as Ivory. The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Civil War veterans drill team sponsored a parade in Grove City in 1888. This was a contingent from the largest convention held in Columbus up to that time.

Gay Weber was probably one of the most engaging merchants in Grove City history. Her store on Broadway, a pizza shop today, carried major brands including Arrow shirts and Levi jeans. Who can forget the gigantic pair of jeans and the huge bra that hung on her wall? Gay also carried a special line of leather gloves preferred by police officers. Once when sales were slow, she plastered her windows with signs that read: Going Out For Business. Sales were brisk because many didn’t read the sign correctly. She was going out FOR and not going OUT of business.