Historical Request For Hoover Photos. Last Day For Boards and Commissions Applications. Police Academy Graduation.
Westerville Historical Society Seeks Photos, Memories of Hoover Dam Construction
The Westerville Historical Society is organizing a program that will revisit one of Central Ohio’s most significant public works — the construction of Hoover Dam and the creation of Hoover Reservoir. The event, part of the Society’s annual meeting on November 9, will explore the dam’s history, its effects on the region, and the personal stories of residents who saw the project firsthand.
The Society invites the public to help expand its understanding of the project by sharing personal photographs, maps, films, or memories from before and during construction. Organizers are especially interested in images showing the dam site before it filled, the work in progress, or nearby homesteads and landscapes that were later submerged beneath the reservoir.
Submissions or inquiries can be sent to WestervilleHistoryProjects@gmail.com.
Hoover Dam, located east of Westerville in Blendon Township, was constructed by the City of Columbus between 1953 and 1955 to address the increasing need for drinking water in the postwar period. The dam holds back Big Walnut Creek, creating Hoover Reservoir, which continues to be a key water source for Columbus. Filling the reservoir dramatically changed the landscape, flooding farmland, forests, and parts of several small communities.
Named in honor of Charles P. and Clarence B. Hoover, longtime engineers at Columbus Waterworks, the structure stands 94 feet tall and spans more than half a mile across its crest. At full capacity, the reservoir holds over 20 billion gallons of water and covers approximately 3,200 acres. The project was designed by Burgess & Niple, an engineering firm based in Columbus that continues to operate today.
The “Hoover Reservoir: History and Impact” program will be held at the Westerville Historical Society’s annual meeting on Sunday, November 9, 2025. Reservations are required. Registration costs $6 for members and $8 for non-members. Checks can be mailed to:
Westerville Historical Society
P.O. Box 1063
Westerville, OH 43086-7063
“All history is personal,” the Society said in its announcement. “We’re looking for residents who remember what the Big Walnut valley looked like before the water came.
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For more information or to contribute materials, contact the Society at the email above.
Deadline Is Friday for Westerville Boards and Commissions Applications
Residents interested in shaping the future of Westerville have until 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, to apply for open positions on several City boards and commissions. Applications must be submitted through the Boards and Commissions Application portal.
The City is currently seeking applicants to fill the following vacancies:
Planning Commission (1 vacancy)
Reviews site plans, zoning changes, land use, and development proposals, and makes recommendations to the City Council.Board of Zoning and Appeals (2 vacancies)
Hears appeals on zoning decisions, reviews variance requests, and considers temporary use permits.Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (2 vacancies)
Advises on planning and programming for the City’s parks, recreational facilities, and green spaces.Uptown Review Board (2 vacancies)
Oversees exterior alterations, signage, and development proposals within the Uptown District to ensure consistency with historic and architectural guidelines.Personnel Review Board (2 vacancies)
Handles appeals and reviews related to City personnel matters and employment decisions.
Community members with an interest in public service and local governance are encouraged to apply. Each board plays a key role in shaping policy, development, and quality of life in Westerville.
For full board descriptions and to apply, visit the Boards and Commissions Application page.
Third Graduation Marks Milestone for Westerville Police Academy
The Westerville Police Academy celebrated a new milestone on Friday, October 10, with the graduation of its third class. Eighteen cadets from 11 different law enforcement agencies completed the academy’s rigorous training, including four new officers from the Westerville Division of Police (WPD).
The Westerville Division of Police created the academy to offer a community-based route for peace officer certification. Instead of depending only on external training centers, WPD developed a local solution tailored to the actual needs of policing in central Ohio.
Cadets undergo a 24-week program totaling over 900 hours of instruction in areas such as constitutional law, defensive tactics, crisis response, building searches, and use-of-force protocols. Training is held at the WPD’s 65,000-square-foot Justice Center, which includes a 10-lane indoor firearms range, use-of-force simulator, and full fitness facilities.
Instruction is led by WPD personnel and supported by experts from other regional departments. The curriculum goes beyond the state-required minimum. To earn STAR Certification from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the academy exceeds benchmarks in high-risk training areas and incorporates advanced tools like drone operations and body-worn cameras.
WPA’s STAR Certification demonstrates a strong commitment to accountability and excellence. To earn it, the academy must meet high standards: at least 85% of cadets must pass state exams and physical fitness assessments, and instruction must excel in vital areas such as crisis intervention, search and seizure, and building entry.
The latest class highlights the academy’s growing regional influence. Graduates represented various agencies, including Hilliard, Delaware, Reynoldsburg, Gahanna, Plain City, Grandview Heights, Genoa Township, Franklin County Metro Parks, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, and Westerville. Since its first class in 2023, the academy has now licensed 32 officers.
Applications for the next class will open on Monday, October 20.
The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.
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