History of Riverlea (excerpt)
reprinted with out permission
The History of Riverlea - Part 1
Kirk McHugh, President Pro Tem, Riverlea Council
Did you know that Riverlea has been a part of Worthington since the 1804 Scioto Company partitioned farm lots 24 and 25 to Zophar Topping and Nathan Stewart? During the War of 1812, a 32-acre portion of these two original farm lots located along the Olentangy River was purchased by the Worthington Manufacturing Company. Owned at that time by Moses Maynard and Ezra Griswold, Jr., the Maynard Farm as it was known included present day Riverlea. This tract remained in the Maynard family until after the Civil War, when the Noble family purchased it. The land comprising Riverlea remained in the hands of the Noble family well into the 20th century.
Riverlea development. The actual development of Riverlea proper dates to a 1923 lease of 102.29 acres from Jacob and Clara Artz, who had purchased the land in 1906. This lease was made to the Van DeBoe-Hager Company of Cleveland, Ohio and included the right to plat, subdivide and improve the land. This same company was already developing several other areas in and around Columbus including Beechwold and Sharon Heights. The first section to be developed by Van DeBoe-Hager was Addition No. 11, which included the northeast corner along High Street at Riverglen Drive and then west to Crescent Court. This initial section was quickly expanded and a plat for 249 lots from High Street to the Olentangy River was approved on June 4, 1924.
Attempting to impose a standard of quality, this original 249-lot plat contained a variety of covenants restricting builders to single-family homes with no detached garages or barns. Seems like little has changed in the past 85 years! Homes were expensive by 1920s standards ranging from $6,000 to $12,000 depending upon lot location. There were also covenants providing community ownership of streets and two parks on Riverglen Drive - the Circle and the Ravine. Thus, Riverlea was born and a great experiment in American democracy was begun - a village actually owned and run by its residents.
(Taken in part from an article published in the Western Intelligencer by Jennie McCormick, Historian, Worthington Historical Society)
The History of Riverlea - Part 1
Kirk McHugh, President Pro Tem, Riverlea Council
Did you know that Riverlea has been a part of Worthington since the 1804 Scioto Company partitioned farm lots 24 and 25 to Zophar Topping and Nathan Stewart? During the War of 1812, a 32-acre portion of these two original farm lots located along the Olentangy River was purchased by the Worthington Manufacturing Company. Owned at that time by Moses Maynard and Ezra Griswold, Jr., the Maynard Farm as it was known included present day Riverlea. This tract remained in the Maynard family until after the Civil War, when the Noble family purchased it. The land comprising Riverlea remained in the hands of the Noble family well into the 20th century.
Riverlea development. The actual development of Riverlea proper dates to a 1923 lease of 102.29 acres from Jacob and Clara Artz, who had purchased the land in 1906. This lease was made to the Van DeBoe-Hager Company of Cleveland, Ohio and included the right to plat, subdivide and improve the land. This same company was already developing several other areas in and around Columbus including Beechwold and Sharon Heights. The first section to be developed by Van DeBoe-Hager was Addition No. 11, which included the northeast corner along High Street at Riverglen Drive and then west to Crescent Court. This initial section was quickly expanded and a plat for 249 lots from High Street to the Olentangy River was approved on June 4, 1924.
Attempting to impose a standard of quality, this original 249-lot plat contained a variety of covenants restricting builders to single-family homes with no detached garages or barns. Seems like little has changed in the past 85 years! Homes were expensive by 1920s standards ranging from $6,000 to $12,000 depending upon lot location. There were also covenants providing community ownership of streets and two parks on Riverglen Drive - the Circle and the Ravine. Thus, Riverlea was born and a great experiment in American democracy was begun - a village actually owned and run by its residents.
(Taken in part from an article published in the Western Intelligencer by Jennie McCormick, Historian, Worthington Historical Society)
posted by Bonk at Home at 7:24 AM
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