Marble Steps Take Shape at Westerville Public Library After Delivery Delays
Construction crews are installing new marble steps at the Westerville Public Library, marking progress on a front entrance renovation that was delayed by difficulties in obtaining the necessary stone sections.
The project began on April 15 and was originally scheduled for completion on Sept. 30. Delays in obtaining the marble sections for the steps pushed the work past that date.
The renovation is transforming the library’s front lawn, developed about 20 years ago, into a more accessible outdoor space for visitors and community activities.
Plans include permanent seating, shade structures, colorful murals, and a dedicated space for performances and other events. Interactive features will include giant cattail wind chimes, a log tunnel, and a stepping-stone path.
Accessibility improvements include a step-free entrance, wider sidewalks, a ramp to the performance area, and illuminated handrails.
Cedar Shingle Roof Replacement Underway at Historic Hanby House
Workers are replacing the cedar-shingle roof of the historic Hanby House on West Main Street in Westerville as part of ongoing efforts to preserve one of the city’s oldest surviving homes.
The work at 160 W. Main St. includes removing the aging shingles and preparing the roof for new cedar shingles. Built in 1846, the house is owned by the Ohio History Connection and operated as a museum by the Westerville Historical Society.
The roof replacement coincides with the 100th anniversary of efforts to save the historic home from demolition. In 1926, the city condemned the house, but Dacia Custer Shoemaker persuaded her husband to buy it as a birthday gift, thereby preserving it for future generations.
The Hanby family lived in the house from 1853 to 1870. William Hanby, a bishop in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, was an abolitionist and a co-founder of Otterbein University. The house also served as a station on the Underground Railroad, helping people escape slavery and make their way toward freedom.
The family’s best-known member, Benjamin Hanby, was a minister, teacher, abolitionist, and songwriter who composed more than 80 songs. His works include the antislavery song “Darling Nelly Gray” and the Christmas favorite “Up on the Housetop.” He died of tuberculosis in 1867 at age 33.
The Westerville Historical Society, which manages the property, marked the house’s centennial of preservation in July, coinciding with the society’s 85th anniversary. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and remains a reminder of Westerville’s ties to the abolitionist movement and 19th-century American music.
Today, the museum houses Hanby family furniture and personal belongings, including a walnut desk crafted by Benjamin Hanby, original printing plates for the first edition of “Darling Nelly Gray,” and a collection of sheet music and books.
The cedar-shingle replacement is the latest maintenance project to protect the nearly 180-year-old structure. The work will help preserve a building that has endured changing ownership, the threat of demolition, and nearly two centuries of Westerville history.
Sustainable Westerville Repair Cafe Moves to Otterbein Campus Center
Sustainable Westerville’s Repair Cafe will be held at a new location this year, at the Campus Center at Otterbein University, 100 W. Home St., on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to noon. The free event was previously held at The Point on Collegeview Road.
The event brings together volunteer repair specialists who help residents repair broken household items instead of throwing them away. Visitors may bring up to two items, including small appliances, electronics, clothing, bicycles, furniture, and jewelry. Participants are encouraged to arrive before 11:30 a.m. to allow time for repairs.
The event will also offer electronics, Styrofoam, and textile recycling. Repair assistance is free, with no residency requirement, and visitors are encouraged to participate in the repair process. More information is available at sustainablewesterville.org/repair-cafe.
Westerville Shredding Day Set for Saturday at Hoff Woods Park
Westerville residents can safely dispose of sensitive documents at the city’s Shredding Day on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to noon at Hoff Woods Park, 556 McCorkle Blvd. Westerville Parks and Recreation is hosting the free event.
Residents may bring up to three cardboard boxes of documents per vehicle for secure shredding. Drivers should enter the park via Westdale Avenue and remain in their vehicles while workers unload the materials. Bags and plastic tubs will not be accepted.
Fill-A-Cruiser Food Drive Set for Saturday at Kroger
The Westerville Division of Police will collect nonperishable food donations during its Fill-A-Cruiser event on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kroger, 55 W. Schrock Road. The food drive benefits Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM), which provides food assistance to local families in need.
Residents are encouraged to donate canned goods, boxed foods, and other nonperishable items to stock a police cruiser with supplies for the ministry’s food pantry. WARM serves families in the Westerville City School District through its Choice Market and other programs that address food insecurity in the community.
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