Naturally Crafted: Life in Union County

Naturally Crafted LIFE IN UNION COUNTY

Naturally Crafted

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Naturally Crafted LIFE IN UNION COUNTY

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Naturally Crafted LIFE IN UNION COUNTY

© 2023 Bookhouse Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Bookhouse Group, Inc. Publisher Rob Levin Director of Sales Barry M. Levin Sales Development Bob Sadosky Publication Development Renée Peyton Writers Donna Brooks, Stacy Moser New Photography Eric Francis Director of Photography Stacy Moser Book and Cover Design Rick Korab Special thanks to Suzanne Kienbaum, local history and digitization specialist with the Marysville Public Library, for her contributions.

Cover photo courtesy of Union County Tourism.

Book Development by Bookhouse Group, Inc. Covington, Georgia www.bookhouse.net ISBN: 979-8-3507-1510-1

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Printed in South Korea

Union County residents appreciate the relaxed pace of life here, where a walk through quaint neighborhoods is an opportunity to greet neighbors and enjoy a sunny day. This historic home was built by local legend Reuben Partridge, the prolific bridge-builder responsible for many of the county’s covered bridges, built in the mid- to late-1800s. His two-story, Queen Anne-style house was a gift from Partridge to his wife, Maria, for their fiftieth wedding anniversary in 1896 and is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

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From its humble beginnings as a drive-up root beer stand where patrons were served by waiters on roller skates, Benny’s Pizza, Pub & Patio has been a favorite of Union County diners since 1977. The well-known venue built its reputation as a prolific purveyor of tasty pizzas, pastas, and ribs and added indoor and outdoor dining and music venues to its twelvethousand-square-foot “campus”—drawing hungry crowds from all over the state craving not just food, but great music year-round.

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Dedication to athletics starts early in Union County—intrepid cross-country runners from North Union Elementary School develop their stamina traversing the rural countryside as they learn about the many benefits of competition, teamwork, and exercise in their daily lives.

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hrough the years, Union County has thrived without having to change much of what really matters. Steeped in a solid foundation of agricultural history and roots tied to the land, it is on this fertile ground that even greater things have been built.

A strong work ethic and attention to craft at the highest level of quality is manifested today in the county’s high standard of living, educational institutions, and economic development.

And though Union County is one of the fastest growing counties in the state, agribusiness and agriculture are still dominant industries today, and a burgeoning agricultural research and development infrastructure and technical ingenuity mean this sector will continue to thrive and grow in the years to come.

What attracted visionary thinkers, farmers, designers, builders, and creators—such as Reuben Partridge and O.M. Scott, more than 150 years ago—still attracts global enterprises today, such as auto-manufacturer Honda and talented chefs, brewers, artists, and other groundbreakers, as well as those looking for a refreshing getaway and an unexpected, good time.

Union County’s fresh air, beautiful, bountiful land and naturally crafted treasures remain invaluable and will be carried in your heart long after a visit. Yet, Union County’s most alluring product of all may be its sense of place, preserved in the special moments, feelings, experiences, and memories of those who venture out and spend time here.

Union County, Naturally Crafted.

—Steve Robinson President, Union County Board of Commissioners

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A dining experience unique to Union County is the Union County Tourism “Dine on a Covered Bridge” event, held every summer and fall.

Participants enjoy a trolley tour, departing from one of several local vineyards or breweries, then winding along the historic Covered Bridge Trail, concluding with a stop at the Pottersburg Bridge, where chefs go all out, serving up a farm-to-table meal featuring seasonal ingredients from local growers and producers.

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PHOTO BY MICHAEL GEORGE | YEOMAN’S WORK PHOTOGRAPHY

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Naturally Crafted

As the season changes to autumn, families like this one take advantage of the cool weather and incredible fall color to enjoy a stroll through one of Union County’s many charming neighborhoods.

Life in Union County

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company­ Our Roots Run Deep

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t was more than 150 years ago that Orlando Mclean Scott—upon his return from the Civil War—opened a small hardware store in Marysville, Ohio, from which he sold grass seed for the agricultural industry. That humble start blossomed into what our company is today—the global leader in products for lawn and gardening care,

as well as indoor and hydroponic growing.

While today we have more than 40 manufacturing facilities and locations throughout North America, our corporate offices have always been in Union County, just around the corner from where it all began. In fact, the original Scotts Store continues to operate in downtown Marysville. It has

The original Scotts Store continues to operate in downtown Marysville.

been the commitment of this town, the character of its citizens, and the remarkable dedication and work ethic of our associates that has made Marysville our home since 1868.

The longevity of our company, especially in today’s global economy, is nothing short of amazing.

Our success is tied to many things: Willingness to reinvent ourselves as times change, commitment to quality, focus on innovation, and devotion to the

customers and consumers who count on us.

Yet, at the very core of our success are those who make it happen—our associates. More than 5,500 of us work for ScottsMiracle-Gro across North America in a company culture that empowers people to succeed and grow in their own careers. Every day, we strive to deliver the very best products and solutions to help people express themselves on their own piece of the Earth.

And we accomplish it all by retaining our strong ties to Union County, a place we’re proud to call home.

Jim Hagedorn CEO and Chairman 1

Young artists display their creations on the front stoop of the Houston House, home to the nonprofit Marysville Art League. In 1982, an enthusiastic group of local artists purchased this historic home, built in 1872 by prominent businessman, grocer, and bank founder Christopher Houston and his wife, Hannah. The group refurbished and transformed the building into a venue for art exhibits and classrooms and now the league uses the facility to provide art lessons, classes, camps, art shows, and special events for budding creatives of all ages.

A new addition to the sports scene in Union County is the recently constructed Marysville BMX track—a venue for bicycle motocross riders of all skill levels who wish to participate in the exciting Olympic sport. Sponsored by the City of Marysville and sanctioned by the sport’s governing body, USA BMX, the professionally designed track offers challenges for beginners and seasoned racers alike. The track attracts scores of competitors from across the country.

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Union County—A Look Back in Time

Union County Is Born

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s Samuel W. Culbertson climbed down from his horsedrawn carriage on a chilly day

in 1819, his gaze took in the thick forests lining Mill Creek, a small waterway in the countryside northwest of Columbus, Ohio’s state capital. But it wasn’t trees Culbertson had traveled more than eighty miles from his home in Zanesville to see. Instead, his purpose was to inspect seven acres of land he had purchased as part of a bold speculation that the area

An 1846 drawing shows the courthouse in newly formed Marysville.

To the left of it is the American Hotel.

would soon become the seat of the newly formed Union County.

He aimed to develop the land—which he named for his daughter, Mary—into a town that would attract families, agriculture, and businesses from across the state of Ohio and beyond.

Marysville was formally organized the next year by a fellow visionary, Colonel James Curry, a member of Ohio’s state legislature. By 1837, an article in the Ohio Gazetteer reported that Marysville consisted of a court house, a jail, forty-five homes, a tavern, three stores, a doctor’s office, and two attorney’s offices—all serving approximately 250 residents. During the following decades, a city hall, post office, banks, schools, churches, a fire station, and a newspaper office were also established.

The woods surrounding the town were found to be quite fertile, and an agricultural industry was rapidly established to take advantage of the area’s favorable climate and topography, providing sustenance for the community. Perhaps one of the most famous and enduring businesses founded in Marysville was O.M. Scotts and Company, a hardware store on the town square (now known as multinational ScottsMiracleGro Company, founded in 1868 by Orlando McLean Scott).

By 1888, the town’s beautiful tree-lined streets earned Marysville the nickname “the Shaded City” and the 1890 census reported a population of German immigrants who came to Union County in the 1830s commonly worked together at barn-raising events, such as this one at the homestead of Christopher and Margaret Rausch.

2,832 residents.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARYSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY

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Golf enthusiasts have plenty of choices here when they want to play—Union County is home to half a dozen golf courses showcasing the dramatic natural beauty of the region. Here, a golfer enjoys a round at Darby Creek Golf Course, a course that highlights local history.

The holes wind through the rolling terrain of what was once the Ohio Orchard Company, which boasted bountiful crops of apples, cherries, and peaches, as well as melons and strawberries, from the 1920s until the 1980s. The course also encompasses the site of the first Presbyterian church in Union County—established in 1800, but burned to the ground not long after. The “back nine” holes are nestled within a forest where maple sugar syrup camps existed.

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Union County—A Look Back in Time

Social Justice in Union County Joe Mayo—Risking His Life for Freedom

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oe Mayo probably never imagined the impact he would make on Union County’s history when he moved to Marysville from Virginia in 1848. He came to work as a

well-digger and lived in a log cabin on the outskirts of town with his wife, Polly. Although he was a free Black, he never forgot the tales of abuse his grandparents suffered as slaves before they were freed upon their owner’s death.

Inspired by those memories, Mayo bravely assumed the role of a “principal conductor” on Ohio’s prolific Underground Railroad prior to the Civil War, fearlessly guiding fugitive slaves who had made their way from southern states to freedom in the North. An 1881 newspaper article described how he was alerted when help was needed: he would be approached in public and told that “two black steers” or “a brown heifer” needed to be taken into town. Joe would arrive at the fugitives’ hiding place, lead them to his home, feed them, and guide them to a secret location north of town. In all, he selflessly risked his life to lead over 250 men and women to freedom.

Joe Mayo, featured in the local newspaper, 1846.

Judge Kathryn Sellers—Safeguarding Families

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lass ceilings were no match for Marysville native Kathryn Sellers, who graduated from law school in 1913, an unusual accomplishment

for a female at that time. In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson appointed her to the federal judiciary, serving as a juvenile court judge in Washington, D.C.—one of her many impressive, pioneering accomplishments.

The prevailing attitude at the time of her appointment was that a female judge would lack the tenacity to uphold the law and would be swayed by sentiment in her decisions. That concern proved irrelevant in Sellers’ case, however, as she possessed clear insight into issues affecting children accused of crimes. Under her direction, there were many improvements to the juvenile-court system, ensuring that children and their families were subjected to humane treatment as their cases were adjudicated.

JOE MAYO PHOTO COURTESY MARYSVILLE JOURNAL-TRIBUNE

Judge Kathryn Sellers, 1918

JUDGE KATHRYN SELLERS PHOTO COURTESY OF MARYSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY

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Designed by Toledo architect David W. Gibbs and finished in 1883, the magnificent fourstory Union County Courthouse is built of brick and Berea Sandstone, a native stone named for Berea, Ohio, where it was historically quarried. Outside the courthouse is a space designed for solemn reflection, the Veterans Remembrance Monument and Plaza, with pathways constructed of bricks inlaid with the names of Union County residents who died in service to the United States. A statue of Lady Justice stands watch from atop the courthouse’s cupola.

Naturally Crafted

BOTTOM PHOTO COURTESY OF MITCHELL’S BERRIES & BLOOMS

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Mitchell’s Berries & Blooms in Plain City is one of several “U-pick” farms and farmers markets in Union County where visitors get a taste of the best produce each season has to offer. (Bottom) Here, a family has made the trek to select juicy, ripe strawberries.