Jackson Township had rich soil when the first settlers arrived but the soil was damp requiring drainage so land could be farmed. That’s why the first factory in Grove City manufactured clay drainage tile and brick. The clay pit would freeze over in the winter months and residents cut blocks of ice from the surface and stored it in an ice house using hay for insulation. It was also one of the clay pits where Mastodon tusks were found. The tile factory was located behind St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Here’s another blast from the past, 1940 to be exact. It shows the intersection of Broadway at Park. Not much has changed except for the vehicles parked outside the tavern. Is there something you would like to see on our Facebook posts? Email us at swfchsohio@gmail.com.

Few people remember this as town hall but in its day, it housed all municipal offices, council chambers and the police department. The current safety building now occupies that site on Park Street.

This isn’t a picture from out west. It’s Grove City before the auto became the principal means of transportation. Would you believe the village council once passed a law that prohibited a horse or mule from being raced on the village streets? The man is the photograph is identified as William Flach.

The Chenoweth family are considered the first settlers in what was once known as Harrisburgh; yes, the “h” is correct. They came from Kentucky and first settled in Pike County before moving north. This sketch is by Pike County artist Jim Henry. His work used to appear weekly in the News-Watchman newspaper in Waverly. They built a home similar to this just north of Harrisburg.