Tag: Bexley History

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Bexley History

Bexley Public Library Day !

By Community Outreach Librarian Leah

Did you know that September 30th is Bexley Public Library Day? Last year during our centennial celebration, Mayor Kessler proclaimed September 30, 2024, and every year moving forward, as “Bexley Public Library Day.” This was a generous way to establish our official birthday and to honor the Library’s long and positive legacy in our community. Our centennial year encouraged learning about the history of Bexley Public Library, for staff, patrons, and the community. Test your knowledge of these historical BPL facts!

True or False:

  1. BPL was founded before the physical building was built.
  2. Capital University initially leased the land to BPL for $10,000 for a period of 10 years.
  3. Much like today, the entrance of the library was originally intended to be used as an art gallery.
  4. The building has only had one major renovation/addition since it was built.

True or False Answers:

  1. True! Bexley Public Library was founded in 1924 and first housed in Bexley High School, now Montrose Elementary School. The building was designed by architects O.C. Miller and R.R. Reeves and opened in 1929. 
  2. False! Capital University leased the land for free for an indefinite period of time in recognition of the library’s importance to its students.
  3. True! We still showcase the artwork of local artists throughout the library. 
  4. False! An addition to the back of the building was completed in 1950 but later removed and replaced during a renovation in 1992. Head Librarian/Director Mary T. Zimmerman oversaw the expansion of the library in 1968, which included the large room on the east side of the library and the Auditorium. The second floor and back of the library were added in 1992. 

Are you interested in learning more about BPL’s history? Check out our website at https://www.bexleylibrary.org/history. If you’d like to represent BPL around town with a cute tote bag or sweatshirt, visit the Friends of the Bexley Public Library Shoppe on bonfire.com.

We invite you to celebrate the first anniversary of Bexley Public Library Day by stopping by the library on Tuesday, September 30th. Happy Bexley Public Library Day!

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Bexley History Programs

Bexley Day

by Community Outreach Librarian Leah

Did you know that Bexley was founded on August 10, 1908? For the past two years, BPL and Bexley Historical Society have partnered to present Bexley Day programs. Historical Society trustee, Larry Helman, has presented: Celebrate Together: Bexley Day with Larry Helman and Celebrating Bexley Day – The Development of Main Street. Former BPL Local History Librarian, David Distelhorst, also presented on Mapping Bexley from Wilderness to Village. These programs present a wide variety of historical information about the city of Bexley and its founding. 

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Bexley History

The Bexley Literary Trail

by Local History Librarian David

Sixty years ago on April 17, 1964, Jerrie Mock of Bexley, a self-described “housewife,” landed her single engine Cessna, the Spirit of Columbus, at Port Columbus International Airport. In that moment she became the first woman to fly solo around the world. That same year, Bexley High School student Bob Greene was keeping a diary. For him, April 17 was a day to leave school early, make his way to downtown Columbus, and have a doctor “drill a filling.”

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Bexley History Programs

Celebrate Bexley’s 115th Birthday at the Library!

By Local History Librarian David

August 10 is Bexley Day, the day Bexley was established as an incorporated village with its first charter in 1908. For the second year, the Bexley Public Library, in partnership with the Bexley Historical Society, are celebrating Bexley’s birthday with an honorary program and cake. This year, Historical Society Trustee, Larry Helman, will present on how the community developed over time. Join us for the event at 7 PM on Thursday, August 10 in the library auditorium. It will also be an opportunity to learn about a new effort to mark and recognize those houses of 100+ years in age. 

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Bexley History BPL News & Information Online Resources

The Torch – Newly Digitized

by Public Service Associate Owen

Bexley Public Library is happy to announce that The Torch digital collection is now live and accessible to the public! The Torch, Bexley High School’s student newspaper, has been a fixture of the high school and of the greater Bexley community for nearly a century. First published in October of 1925, The Torch has since received multiple awards for its excellence in student journalism. And now, thanks to the digitization efforts led by our Local History Librarian David Distelhorst, there are hundreds of early edition copies of The Torch, now accessible to the public, that contain a bounty of fascinating insights into Bexley and its history. I hope to feature some of my personal favorite editions of The Torch from this collection, as well as share a little bit about how The Torch works and how it has affected me in a positive way.

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Bexley History Programs

Celebrate Bexley Day

by Local History Librarian David

Bexley, 1872

Bexley Day, which falls on August 10, 2022, marks the 114th anniversary of the first council meeting of the Village of Bexley. This year Bexley Public Library, in partnership with the Bexley Historical Society, is celebrating Bexley Day with the program, Mapping Bexley From Wilderness to Village.

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Bexley History

C. C. Crabbe and Bexley’s First Patriotic Parade

by Local History Librarian David

Bexley’s “Uncle Sam,” Charles Carl “C. C.” Crabbe (1878-1969) held the first of his annual Flag Day Celebrations, “by accident.” It was Flag Day, June 14, 1953, when Crabbe, chatting with six neighborhood kids, realized they were unaware of the holiday. He gave each a miniature American Flag and taught them about Flag Day, established by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777, to celebrate the birthday of the American Flag.

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Bexley History

Locating African Americans in Early Records

by Local History Librarian David

During Bexley Public Library’s March program, “Stories of African Americans in 19th Century Bexley,” I learned how different records identify African Americans. Then, while digging deeper into the life of Thomas Payton, discovered some of those records.

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Bexley History Programs

Celebrating 50 Years With Bexley’s Own Miss America 1972

by Local History Librarian David

Thousands lined the streets of Bexley for a 68-unit parade of marching bands, floats, bagpipes, and drill teams, reminiscent of the city’s annual Independence Day celebration. However, on this day, in mid October, royalty was celebrated. On the last float, cradling a bouquet of red roses in one arm and waving to the crowd with the other, sat Laurel “Laurie” Lea Schaefer, Bexley’s own Miss America 1972.

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Bexley History

Abstracts of Title Trace History of Bexley Lands

by Local History Librarian David

For much of the twentieth century, an updated Abstract of Title was required when transferring real estate. Such a document was a compilation of all the transactions made for a specific piece of real estate, thus tracing the owners back to the early 1800s. The purpose was to ensure against any encumbrances on the property, guaranteeing a clean title.

By the mid 1970s, Abstracts of Titles were becoming less common. Replaced by title insurance, many lenders dropped them as a requirement. Homeowners no longer had to update the abstract when selling their property, and many were discarded. Those that survive are valuable documents providing a glimpse into the past.

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