BLOG

Andy Furr
Mark Schmidbauer Mark Schmidbauer

Andy Furr

The late Andrew “Andy” Furr, executive director of the Grove City Town Center business organization, created several local festivals including the Wine and Arts Festival, Bourbon Festival, and was instrumental in the ongoing success of the Christmas Mistletoe Market. He also organized foot truck events in the Town Center and was once the Arts in the Alley parade director and the Christmas Parade.

Read More
First Railroad Plan
Mark Schmidbauer Mark Schmidbauer

First Railroad Plan

The first railroad planned to operate through Grove City was the Ohio Southern Railroad in 1881. The company constructed a bed for track to the area just north of Rt. 665 on the east side of Hoover Road. The company went bankrupt and the project was never completed. The Columbus and Cincinnati Midland Railroad laid the current track west of Broadway three years later in 1884.

Read More
First Little League Team
Mark Schmidbauer Mark Schmidbauer

First Little League Team

In the early 1950s, the land where Windsor Park is today was slated to become an industrial park. Charles MacKay, Harold Windsor, Joseph White, Ernest Plank and Melvin Girbert argued against the plan encouraging the land to become parkland. By 1953, the first Little League team, pictured, played at Windsor Park after relocating from Wade’s Park that was once north of Columbus Street at Richard Avenue.

Read More
2026 SWFCHS Calendar
Mark Schmidbauer Mark Schmidbauer

2026 SWFCHS Calendar

Are you looking for a stocking stuffer or gift for family, friends, and/or neighbors? The Southwest Franklin County Historical Society has the perfect thing! We are offering a 2026 calendar that celebrates the semiquincentennial (America’s 250th birthday) and all that is Grove City.

Read More
Civil Defense
Mark Schmidbauer Mark Schmidbauer

Civil Defense

In 1950 after North Korea invaded the South, an effort was made to organize a Civil Defense Ground Observer Program in Grove City out of fear of an aerial enemy attack. Howard Sigman agreed to allow the roof of his store to become an aerial observation post. There’s no evidence it was ever built. Sigman’s Red & White super market was the first with a self-serve refrigerated meat counter, later known as Sig’s Market.

Read More