January 20, 2011
ThisWeek Community Newspapers German Village
Page A5
AS IT WERE Continued from page A4
But now it was finally done. Occupied in 1857 after the old Statehouse burned in 1852, the new Statehouse was finally completed in 1861. It was worth the wait. It is one of America’s truly great buildings and a reflection of the strong and dedicated people who built it. On Feb. 13, 1861, Abraham Lincoln, soon to be inaugurated as President of the United States, passed through Columbus. After speaking to the Ohio General Assembly, he moved to the steps of the state capitol and spoke to the people. He concluded his brief remarks by saying, “I am doubly thankful that you have appeared here to give me this greeting. It is not much for me, as I shall soon pass away from you, but we have a large country and a large future before us, and the manifestations of goodwill towards the government, and affection for the Union which you may exhibit are of immense value to you and your posterity forever. (applause) In this point of view, it is that I thank you most heartily for the exhibition you have given me and with that allow me to bid you an affectionate farewell.” (deafening applause and cheers) In less than two months the “affection for the Union” of Columbus, Ohio, and the rest of the nation would be tested as never before with the beginning of the American Civil War.
But the most dangerous part of Columbus was the part most people never saw. The average life expectancy of an adult male in Columbus in 1861 was considerably less than 50 years. Unlike our own time, the life expectancy of adult women was even less. The death rate among women was higher because of complications of childbirth. The death rate among both men and women was higher because of a number of ailments for which vaccines and other curative medicines had yet to be discovered. In spite of all of these dangers and disagreeable aspects, people continued to come to the city of Columbus. They came for the same reasons people have been coming to cities for the past several hundred years: The city was where opportunity was waiting. To really appreciate the wonder of a city like Columbus, all one had to do in 1860 was wander to the middle of town and gaze across Statehouse Square. Rising from the middle of the square was one of the great buildings in 19thcentury America. More than 20 years earlier, in 1839, the small, frontier state of Ohio had decided to build a new statehouse. It was thought the building would be done in two years and cost about $200,000. The Statehouse took 22 years to build and cost $2,200,000. Ed Lentz writes a history column for ThisWeek.
Coming up To add, remove or update a listing, e-mail editorial@thisweeknews.com.
Event CCS Elementary and Middle School Information Fair, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, at the Arts Impact Middle School, 680 Jack Gibbs Blvd. For more information, visit www.columbus.k12.oh.us.
Meetings Trilo Grogan Toastmasters, 7 to 8:15 p.m. first and third Thursdays of each month at the Family Life Center, 907 Lexington Ave. For more information, visit www.trilogrogan.freetoasthost.info. Merion Village Association, 7 p.m. the first Wednesday of each See COMING UP, page A7
Home sales Columbus /43206 255 E Beck St, 43206, Timothy C. Straker, $480,000. 391 Kossuth St, 43206, John Vincent Stahly, $185,000. 49 Hanford St, 43206, Patrick H. Sellan, $135,000. 646 E Whittier St, 43206, Shawn E. Roundy, $59,900.
Columbus /43207 642 Stockbridge Rd, 43207, James E. Erwin and Bonnie L. Erwin, $91,500. 4639 Grandover Dr, 43207, Starlita D. McCall, $90,000. 1200 Koebel Rd, 43207, Edna M. Wesco, $69,900. 4370 Catamaran Dr, 43207, Gena K. Perry, $64,900. 767 Berkeley Rd, 43207, Mark S. Pratt, $39,400. Check out recent home sales in other central Ohio neighborhoods at www.ThisWeekNews.com.
SPECIAL ! SE OPEN HOU3rd S February AY DO O R
W I VE A PRIZES & G
Scioto Villa living is easy living. Live in a gracious over 55, gated community surrounded by all the best amenities. Scioto Villas are the gold standard in independent luxury living. Luxury living you can afford.
Please join us for a special open house at the Villas of Scioto on Thursday, February 3rd, from 4 to 7 p.m. Tour the beautiful Villas and enjoy hors d’oeuvres & refreshments. RSVP to Rob Koch at (614) 448-6954 or scioto.marketing@capitalhs.com. Don’t miss the raffle, door prizes and special giveaways! Can’t join us on the 3rd? Call us today to arrange for a private tour.
433 Obetz Road, Columbus, OH 43207 T. 614.491.2000 sciotocommunity.com
tHe best heart attack
outcomes In tHe regIOn
only ohio state. We have the highest survival rate for heart attack in central Ohio. In fact, our outcomes are some of the best in the country. While the American Heart Association recommends treating heart attack patients within 90 minutes, our average is 56 minutes. So what do we do with the other 34 minutes? We discover the next lifesaving improvement in heart attack care. Faster. Most experienced. Best outcomes. Only Ohio State. Ohio State’s Ross Heart Hospital | medicalcenter.osu.edu/go/KnowTheSigns
* Survival rate data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.