The Concord Chapel Animal Hospital at the corner of 665 and Hoover Rd resembles a church and there’s good reason…it once was. Concord Chapel’s congregation, once a Methodist Episcopal Church, dates to 1847 and was built at a cost of $1,800, according to the files of the Southwest Franklin County Historical Society. That makes it one of the oldest organized churches in Jackson Township. In the early 1800s, the church had a “pew board” that separated seating inside the church requiring men to sit on one side and women and children on the other. It was also common to have two entrances, one for men and another for women but that might not have been the case at Concord. Sometime around 1907, members of the church purchase their first bell which remained in the steeple until 1990 when it was removed because of safety concerns. Martin Addy provided the equipment to remove the bell assisted by Rick Weber and Jeff Wellman. It has since been moved to a permanent site at Century Village.

One hundred and twenty-seven years ago, two 12-foot tusks were unearthed in Grove City in a pit where a company manufactured clay tile. A partial skull and teeth were also found. The remains were identified as a Mastodon by a professor from the Ohio State University but an examination of the photo might indicate the find was misidentified, instead being a Mammoth. [Note the shovel in upper left for size comparison.] Mastodon tusks have a slight curve; the Mammoth tusk has a more dramatic curve. The find was uncovered in an area behind St. John’s Lutheran Church on Columbus Street. What do you think, Mastodon or Mammoth? Source: A History of Grove City, Ohio

Gary Burley, of Urbancrest, is an alumnus of the University of Pittsburgh where he played defensive lineman. He attended Grove City High School and Brookpark Middle School. Burley was a 1975 round three pick in the National Football League draft.

Looking to the south, the Texaco sign is the corner of Grove City Road and Broadway, where the Town Center gazebo is today. The buildings on the left once occupied the landscape where the municipal building currently stands.

Join us for a fundraising banquet for the Southwest Franklin County Historical Society, as part of the America 250 celebration.

Dan Rager will present his book, “Ohio: Gateway to America, Ground Transportation 1776-2026”. The banquet will be held on May 8 at 6:30p, at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 2213 White Road in Grove City. Tickets are $26 per person—you can RSVP and purchase tickets at this link. More details in the attached photo.