A History of Minerva Park, 1895-1992, by Vernon
Pack, historian.A History of Minerva Park, 1895-1992, by Vernon
Pack, historian.
The first year of this decade featured
a year-long celebration of the Village's 50 years of incorporation. The
Women's Club and the Civic Association merged as the Minerva Park Community
Association. 
Fire Chief Garrabrant said in 1990 that his division included 54 individuals, all of them volunteers. Only 12 of them were Park residents. Every applicant must take a state certified EMS course at the applicant's own expense before being accepted.
During 1990, volunteers completed the remodeling of their living quarters. They bought all of the materials and did the work themselves; that represented quite a monetary saving to Park residents.
As part of the MinervaFlora effort, Park resident Pam Park-Curry is shown resetting bricks near the Lake. Mary Yost gave great leadership to her MinervaFlora Committee. Its members helped, in significant ways, make the Park a great place in which to live and raise families.
The emergency squad continued to have three around-the-clock shifts. The fire contract was renewed with the City of Columbus; the Park continues to own no fire equipment. The Park's emergency squad responds to dispatches from both Blendon Township and Columbus. Actually, most of its calls are outside the Park.
The decade began with only two paid police officers; they were Chief Bobbie Hillard and Sgt. Dave Lane. The five volunteer patrolmen received only their uniform. Their training was provided at the Ohio Police Academy in Dublin. By mid 1992, the division had expanded to six patrolmen.
The Swim Cub had its facilities converted from solid to liquid chlorine in 1990 at a cost of about $6,000. A plea for members to keep the pool open appeared in the community's excellent monthly newsletter. Helen Gale spearheaded a Browse and Buy sale in her home. Its profits went to the Swim Club. Assisting Helen were Cathy Moore, Dee Young, Patti Sidner, Varley Miller and Bob Gale.
Hawthorne Elementary School received a $76,744 grant from the State in 1990 for its "Color Us Caring" program. The March 1990 issue of The Villager added a new section which featured the Park's emergency squad. A two-year renewal contract was awarded Green Trucking in 1990 to haul away the Village's trash and garbage.
The Civic Association greeted this decade with fewer and fewer members. It did, however, continue to perform useful work on behalf of the Village. One of its significant contributions was the $450 donation toward the 50th anniversary celebration.
A few Civic Association members and some from the Women's Club joined forces for strenuous clean-up duties on Earth Day in 1990. Six children were part of the work force.
The Village enjoyed a community-wide celebration in 1990 as its first 50 years were highlighted in great fashion. Monthly meetings of the 50th Celebration committee were held at the Community Building. Collecting contributions throughout the Village were Betty Dowl, Marty Fletcher and Helen Lakin.
Commemorative items were on sale at Civic Association meetings. Note packets depicting six scenes of the Park were the work of Ray Beougher, a noted Park artist. Coffee mugs featured a pillar and the inscription "Minerva Park 1940-1990." The commemorative items cost $5 each.
The first of three major events took place on Sunday, April 29,1990. More than 350 residents and friends enjoyed the chicken barbecue in Hawthorne's multi-purpose room. Following the meal Park historian Vernon Pack presented a slide show. In it, he gave an overview of the Village's colorful history beginning with the opening of the Minerva Amusement Park in 1895.
The second big event occurred on September 8. The Westerville South High School band led the parade; Catherine Slicer, a 62-year resident of the Park, was the Grand Marshal. Lynn Eisentrout organized the excellent parade which featured floats, entertainers and representatives from the police and fire departments.
Equally successful was the track Olympiad which Gene Hulbert organized. The swimming pool was the scene for various water events which Bob Jackson so capably supervised. Diane Metz and Bob Stuart coordinated a multitude of activities.
Part way through the day's festivities, George Stewart performed at the pool as the "Amazing Nebo." Vernon Pack presented a revised slide program that featured the Park's colorful history. Some people enjoyed square dancing in the auditorium. Ten committees planned the day's activities.
The third big event of the 50th Anniversary year was the December 1 Women's Club Christmas Dinner Dance at Sanese Services. Following the dinner, amateur talent put on a variety show. Couples enjoyed dancing to the 16-piece Deja Vu big band.
The Women's Club in 1990 donated $225 to the 50th Anniversary Committee. Much of the credit for the success of the celebration belonged to co-chairmen Tom and Kate Fletcher. For those accomplishments, they were the recipients of the 1990 Outstanding Citizen Award.
Since the history's 1990 conclusion, several items should be included in this souvenir booklet. Mary E. Stuart, a Westerville South graduate, was the 1991 recipient of the Nancy Fischer Scholarship.
Hanging on a wall in the Community Building is the Golden Broom Award which the Village received on November 15,1991; it was for "Clean Up, Recycling and Beautification." That constituted one more recognition the Park has received.
It should be emphasized that Minerva Park
has never been called a development; its nearly 555 homes and lots have
been sold on an individual basis. The community is approximately five square
miles in size. 
The Village received mention in an April 27, 1992 article in the Wall Street Journal! It stated that the Women's Club and Civic Association gave two Minerva pillars a facelift that cost the organizations $1,600. It told of the active role that MinervaFlora was playing in the AmeriFlora '92 celebration.
Outstanding individual landscaping has always been Feature of Minerva Park residences
By September 1991, the Women's Club and the Civic Association had combined their respective memberships to create the Minerva Park Community Association. Its first president was Jennifer Hochuli. Under the chairmanship of Tunnie Martin the 1992-1993 Directory expanded to include additional features which made it an asset to all members.
Mary Yost continued to give great leadership to her MinervaFlora Committee. Its members helped, in significant ways, make the Park a great place in which to live and raise families.
Anita Riehl and Madge LeDonne assumed their duties in June 1991 as co-editors of The Villager. As of this writing, Madge is the sole editor for what continues to be an amazing newsletter.
Many residents look back with nostalgia to ice skating on the large lake and to sledding beside the #10 hole on the golf course. A ski club used to enjoy outings at Clear Fork. Many residents still bowl at area facilities.
Block parties were once a popular form of recreation. At one time, there were as many as 40 couples participating in square dancing that entertainment continues for some couples away from the Village. Held inside the Community Building is line dancing. Elinor Doughty was an active member of the group at the Blendon Township Senior Citizens Center. When she was deemed "too young" to continue her membership there, Elinor brought a nucleus of her friends to the Park for their dancing.
The Village was to have had two recreation centers as indicated on Charles Johnson's original map. Neither was ever developed. One would have been in what is now called Cardinal Court. The other was proposed for the area of Alder Vista Drive to Maplewood Drive.
The Village today (October 1992) has fewer than 1,500 residents, depending upon whose census figures are used. There are nearly 40 small businesses along the west and north borders. Only one house of worship is within the Park. Modern highways make it easy for residents to drive quickly to their favorite church.
Questions that the historian occasionally fielded included one about the Village's song, "Minerva Park Waltzes." It was composed in 1896 by T. J. McQuaid. Residents and visitors can see it hanging in the Community Building. Also on display there is the framed map of the Village that Jeannette Otting presented in 1963.
The well-operated Village government continues to be a marvel. There have been only eight mayors since 1940. Each, in his own way, made great contributions to the Park. All have been hard workers as they did as much, if not more, volunteer work than most of the other residents. The community is blessed with people who feel it their duty to pitch in throughout the year to hold down expenses.
Throughout this brief history, many examples have been given to illustrate how volunteers have donated their time and energy. The degree of voluntary accomplishments is almost unique to Minerva Park.
The historian naturally dislikes having to end his work, but space will not permit more. He is aware of scores of residents, past and present, who helped keep traditions alive. This history is especially dedicated to the memory of those earliest residents who set a proper tone for how great it is to live in Minerva Park.
Significant dates from this era
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