A Diverse Population. Merion Village has an important story to tell in the history of Columbus. Located in the city’s Near South Side, the Merion Village area has enjoyed an interesting past. Early British and Nova Scotian settlers came to the area in the early 1800s, when as compensation for their help in the Revolutionary war, Congress deeded 50,080 acres of land east of the Scioto River.
During the mid-19th century, the neighborhood saw an influx of German immigrants as well as Irish, Italian and Hungarian immigrants, and later people from Appalachia and the southern U.S., as South Columbus grew into an industrial hub.
Dubbed "Steelton," the area of Parson’ s Avenue south of Reeb-Hosack had a substantial building boom between 1910-30, quickly developing into a manufacturing center and home to two large steel plants. Street car lines were quickly established to supply Steelton with workers.
Locating within Merion Village were institutions that traditionally represent community stability such as churches, schools, a hospital and businesses that employed residents.
Churches.Religion played an important role in community life and many churches were built, reflecting the varied religious beliefs of area residents. Today there are eight churches active in Merion Village, some have been providing sanctuary and religious instruction for the past 75 years.
Schools. Merion Village is home to two historic elementary schools. The Southwood Elementary School, a public school located at the corner of Southwood and Fourth, has been educating children for over a century. St. Leo's Church opened a free parochial school in 1904 that was the city’ s only free parish school. It did not charge tuition until the early 1970s.
Columbus Community Hospital. Although, now being converted into a multi-unit community health center, the Columbus Community Hospital was a stabilizing force in the neighborhood, providing residents and workers with local access to quality health care. The hospital opened in 1903 in a large house at 1522 South High.
1904 was an important year for the hospital. A charter was established authorizing its operation and establishing a school of nursing, and enough money was raised to purchase a new, permanent hospital location and the hospital moved to its present location.
During 1907, the School of Nursing graduated its first class and a decision was made to begin fund raising efforts for a new, larger facility. By 1910, the new facility was open and in 1930 an addition was constructed. The Medical Arts building was constructed in 1958 and the last major construction project was completed in 1971.
The Businesses of Merion Village. The businesses of Merion Village tended to concentrate along street car lines, and accordingly, stores, restaurants, offices, theaters and bars thrived in the area. Although Parson’ s Avenue was the true "Main Street" of the South Side, Fourth Street, with its street car line, served as the hub of commercial activity in Merion Village.
Still Striving. Home to historic houses, churches, schools, a hospital and businesses, the Merion Village area remains a vibrant and special place. Today, many of the people residing in the area have strong family ties dating back to the early 1900s. The neighborhood continues to attract new families and individuals for many of the same reasons it did almost a century ago: pleasant, affordable and solidly built housing, strong neighborhood institutions, and easy access to area employers.
However, instead of heading south to Steelton, many of today’ s residents commute to their jobs downtown, at the nearby The Ohio State University, or to other employers throughout the city and its suburbs including those South Side manufacturing concerns still in operation.
If you have an interesting story or photo of Merion Village past we'd love to hear from you.
