A History of Minerva Park, 1895-1992, by Vernon
Pack, historian.A History of Minerva Park, 1895-1992, by Vernon
Pack, historian.
Minerva Realty
reorganized in 1940; it gained clear title to the various Park properties.
The development, which at the time had only 14 completed homes, was not
as yet incorporated, so a special meeting was held on July 25 at which time
incorporation became a reality.
The Village's first mayor was Carleton C. Berry. He published The Linden News in the basement of his home. His lengthy term commenced with the community's first Council meeting on September 5.
The first Village Council had as its members Herbert E. Otting, Charles J. Marzetti, DeVere Kerr, Mrs. Georgette Hetrick, Mrs. Catherine V. Slicer, Mrs. Martha Reese and Mayor Carleton C. Berry. All were highly capable individuals; they met in members' homes.
A likeness of the Roman goddess Minerva, the mythological goddess
of wisdom, technical skill and invention, graces the entrance columns along
Cleveland Avenue. The Park however, takes its name from Minerva Shipherd,
wife of the first developer.
Selected to serve as the clerk was Eileen M. Laird and Merle C. Baughn as the Park's first treasurer. The Village's first building inspector was T. D. Reese. He had as his assistants Emerson Laird, J. T. McNerney and Don Hetrick.
John T. McNerney was hired on September 5 to be the community's first marshal. During the first year of incorporation, warnings were given wherever infractions took place. All state and statutory offenses (including trespassing) were heard by Blendon Township Justice of the Peace Charlie Myers.
It was not until August 1941 that Mayor Berry heard cases in the basement of his Lakewood Drive home. (It would be another two decades before cases would be heard in the garage portion of the present Community Building.)
One month after our nation entered World War II, blackout & air raid protection was instituted. Pairs of male volunteers were needed each evening to turn off lights and see that blinds were closed. Catherine Slicer still owns a billy club that her husband had carried. To purchase automobile tires, residents had to report to the Rationing Board in Westerville.
At its January 9, 1942 meeting, the Village Council approved residents paying $1 per month for police protection with the Village treasury kicking in $20 per month. Bruce Cockrell was sworn in as a marshal in January 1944; he served the community for several years. One interesting duty a part-time policeman had to perform was the evening patrolling of Lover's Lane.
Upon its incorporation, Minerva Park contracted with Columbus for fire protection. In addition, a two year fire contract with Westerville went into effect on January 1,1941. A protection contract was signed with Westerville extending the coverage for three more years commencing on January 1,1943. The Village paid the City of Westerville $50 per year plus $50 per call. The all-volunteer department at that time served Blendon Township.
The Village Council in December 1944 appointed its first non-professional fire chief in the person of C. E. Metcalf. The first equipment purchased was a trailer with a 6-cylinder Chrysler motor centrifugal pump. In addition, there were several 100-foot hoses, a ladder and an ax. These were made available to Minerva Park from the Civil Defense Council. The three-year contract signed with Westerville for 1946-1949 cost the Park $100 per year.
The community's first three ordinances dealt respectively with matters relating to zoning, the building code and hunting. In July 1942, the Village had its first safety director; he was DeVere Kerr, the mayor's son-in-law. Reflecting the poor economy of the time, about 300 delinquent lots were sold by foreclosure after October 1945.
Mention is made in the official Village Council minutes that commencing in June 1942 garbage and trash collection would be handled by H. F. Alexander; he was contracted at $2 per week. Larry Hicks recalls having helped on two occasions with the garbage collection. Glass and various other items were separated so that Alexander could give the edible garbage to his hogs. beginning February 1, 1949, George Aisel succeeded Alexander.
Garbage was picked up once each week whereas trash was collected only once a month at $1 per home.
An emergency ordinance was passed in July 1941 to give the Village its contract with the Columbus & Southern Electric Company. That firm was to construct, maintain and operate the lines. The community's first levy (3-mill) passed on September 22. It was determined there would be no water rights for those persons and businesses outside the corporation.
Catherine Slicer and Lillian Eis recall, with nostalgia, incidents that occurred on Wildwood. One amusing one was the time the two ladies chased a cow from their street all the way back to Clinton Vance's farm.
Minerva Park School saw to it that the children received a fine education. The older students attended Westerville's high school. The 1947 Levy passed 911 to 325.
The Sharon Township Schools ceased to exist in 1949 following a Franklin County Board of Education order to have its students transferred to the Worthington system. The Westerville Board of Education annexed part of the Sharon Township district. At that time, Minerva Park had 233 pupils in eight grades with six teachers on its faculty.
The Minerva Park Golf Course became a public links about 1940. Several excellent Westerville High School golf teams used the course. Among those students was Eric Gaiser, who both played and worked at the course. During the early 1940s, the golf club house was used for Park parties. Milton Grosh furnished the truck and labor for restocking the lakes with a large number of blue gills, bass and catfish in the autumn of 1945.
It was estimated the Village had only 35 families in 1944. With the termination of World War II in 1945, a building boom took place. By Ordinance Number 17, Minerva Park East Addition was annexed to the Village in 1947; the area included lots 452 thru 528 plus Reserves "G" and "H"
The Village Council, at its January 13, 1949 meeting, heard the request of Lustron Homes to build in Minerva Park. Council members refused the request, as well as that of any other prefabricated home builders.
Carleton Berry's successor as mayor was Del Bodey who took office on January l,1948. In September the Village began making payments to Carleton Berry and DeVere Kerr for the land they had personally bought at a Sheriffs Sale.
Villagers generally voted at Cleveland Avenue business or in someone's home. E. J. Williams was a Park resident who had made his garage available for that purpose.
Beginning with the November 1949 election, Myron and Lillian Eis had electors vote in their Wildwood Road home's recreation room. Lillian was a presiding judge for 20 years.
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The historical text and photos reproduced here are used with the permission of the author. The graphics contained in this web site were produced by the copyright holder.
Rick Lakin, rlakin@home.com