Melvin Girbert was a prominent contractor, home builder and realtor in Grove City but there was another side not as well remembered. He was unhappy when the downtown Grove Theatre closed its doors. In an effort to provide movies for children, he purchased the building with the intent to show movies for children on Saturdays. He renamed the business the Grove City Community Theatre. Girbert was also instrumental in organizing the creation of Windsor Park, the Grove City Babe Ruth League, and he made an effort to relocate the Ohio National Guard Armory to Grove City.

In the 1970s when free publication became popular advertising mediums, the Grove City Record joined the fray with their own entry, Shopper Times. It was delivered free to homes in Grove City and Jackson Township and on the southside of Columbus. One of the major advertisers was Shottenstein’s Department Store on Parsons Avenue. The publications were the creation of Ray Stark, Jim Hale and Walter Bentley.

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.