HOGE’S Looking At the Neighborhood of the Hilltop Through Time

My family has known Hoge and the Hilltop since 1919. My grandmother, great-grandmother and my mother moved to the Hilltop and Hoge from Meigs County Ohio in 1919 after my grandfather, a civil War vet, died in 1918. Several families moved from Southern Ohio. Harold Ball, who worked on in the new church had been a student in a one-room school where my mom taught. The Chases came from Athens County as did Phoebe Jerman, my Sunday School teacher in the 1930s.

My grandmother purchased a home on Midland Avenue. Later, after my mom married and I was born, my parents bought grandma's house. She had a smaller one floor home built two blocks away from us.Grandma became a member at Hoge. Rev. Hutchinson visited her at one point. Her death in 1937 is recorded in Hoge records.

In the 1980s when I looked into Hoge's history I found that many of the early members lived on Midland Avenue. Some of were Mr. and Mrs. Simeral, Miss Morgan, a teacher at Highland Avenue school and others in the first two blocks. Carolyn Decker Colborn's parents lived across the street from my parents. Carolyn was born there.

In the 20s, 30s, and 40s most members lived east of Hague Avenue. The Hilltop was a stable community. Three or four Columbus mayors came from the area. There were many businesses along West Broad Street: three banks, Department store and a variety store where we bought valentines. There a shoe repair store and Roush's Hardware where I bought my first roller skates for under $3.00.There an Isaly's ice cream store and three or four drug stores. The Rivoli Theater along with two restaurants. One Buck's 5¢ hamburger that became a . One of the was in a double just east of the Rivoli Theater. A hot meal and desert cost 25 to 30¢.There was a good bakery in the block before Eureka Avenue. On the corner of West Broad and Eureka Avenue here was a wonderful place where one could buy ice cream soda's for 5¢. Two of my friends and I always saved 5¢ from our church we could stop after church. There were grocery stores, doctor and, dentists offices, and insurance agencies. It was a community, and most were locally owned.

I lived away from Ohio from 1946 to 1950 and again in 1953 to 1960. Those years were when people started moving to new areas. Carolyn Colborn moved to Roys Avenue. My parents moved to Josephine Avenue south of Sullivant Avenue. Three other families moved from Midland to Josephine. More people had cars and could travel farther. Businesses moved too. Shopping malls were built.

By the 1940s there were more houses west of Hague Avenue but still a lot of vacant lots. in the Westgate area.

We need contribution who were active at Hoge Memorial during these years who remembers Mayor Sensenbrenner and his large SS classes. Many new members were home from war, going to school and starting new families. Please Help to fill in these years.

By Nancy