Renovating, Repairing, Reusing, and Repotting
Library Renovations Begin With Closed Entrance, Removed Marker, And Cleared Front Lawn
The Westerville Public Library’s State Street entrance is closed, the front lawn is fenced off, and one of Uptown’s small pieces of public history has been lifted from its longtime place.
Crews used an excavator and lifting straps on Thursday to remove a bronze marker mounted on a granite pillar near the library’s front entrance. The marker briefly recounts Westerville's status as the “Dry Capital of the World,” a reference to the city’s central role in the Anti-Saloon League and the national temperance movement.
The job did not go smoothly at first. One set of lifting straps snapped under the weight of the granite pillar, sending the loose straps flying as the pillar settled back to the ground. Workers later secured the marker and continued the removal.
Nearby, two contractors stood along the edge of the library roof, inspecting it before repair work began next week.
The activity is one of the first visible signs of a larger set of library improvements planned for 2026.
Last week, crews also removed the large tree in front of the History Museum, opening a broad stretch of lawn between the 1850s brick building and the library’s State Street entrance.
According to a historic plaque at the site, the brick home was built by George Stoner in the 1850s. The home, along with an adjacent plot, was later given to the Anti-Saloon League by the Westerville Board of Trade for use as printing headquarters and offices. From there, the league printed anti-alcohol material for distribution across the United States and around the world.
In 1973, the building was given to the Westerville Public Library, which owns and manages the league’s historic collections. Previous owners included the Meyer family, whose daughter, Agnes Meyer Driscoll, became a pioneering cryptologist.
Signs posted at the site remind visitors that the library remains open during construction. One banner directs patrons to park behind the building and enter from East Walnut Street.
The front lawn project is scheduled from April 15 through September 30. The lawn, now about 20 years old, is being redesigned to better serve the library’s growing community and create more usable outdoor space.
Planned additions include permanent seating, shade structures, colorful murals, and interactive features such as giant cattail wind chimes, a log tunnel, and a stepping-stone path. The design also includes a performance area for library-hosted events.
Accessibility improvements are a major part of the project. Plans include step-free entry, widened sidewalks, ramp access to the stage, and illuminated handrails.
The roof, originally installed in 1980, is in the second phase of a four-part repair plan.
The first-floor restroom remodel is expected to begin in November and take about three months. The restrooms, built in 1997, will be updated to meet modern standards.
For now, the library remains open, but its front door is closed, its lawn is under construction, and a marker telling part of Westerville’s dry history has been moved out of the way as the next chapter begins.
It’s like a garage sale where everything is free.
Sustainable Westerville’s ReUseAPalooza on Saturday lets bargain hunters find what may be the best place to get free household items: the end of a neighbor’s driveway.
Just take what you want and wave “thank you” as you drive away. No haggling over prices. It’s all free.
The bi-annual curbside exchange returns Saturday, May 2, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. across Westerville. Residents are invited to place clean, usable items they no longer need at the curb for others to take. Furniture, toys, clothing, tools, and other household items are welcome. The goal is to give reusable items a new home and purpose while helping extend the life of the landfill.
This is not a garage sale. Everything placed out for ReUseAPalooza is free.
Sustainable Westerville maintains an online map and lists showing where items are available. Residents can submit items, with or without a photo, to be added to the map. Submissions made after 9:30 a.m. Saturday may not appear on the map, and items shown on the map should not be picked up before the event begins at 8 a.m.
Participants should place items at the curb, avoid blocking sidewalks or traffic views, and put tall or unstable items in a safe position. Anything not taken by 6 p.m. should be brought back inside.
Treasure hunters should refresh the map often. The best finds may not last long, especially when the price is free.
Inniswood Plant Sale Offers Perennials, Natives, and Herbs This Weekend
The best selection at Inniswood Metro Gardens this weekend may go to the early gardeners.
The annual plant sale at Inniswood, 940 S. Hempstead Road, will be held Saturday, May 2, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Shoppers can choose from premium plant stock, including perennials, native plants, herbs, new varieties, and old favorites. Volunteer master gardeners and other knowledgeable plant lovers will be available to answer questions and help visitors choose the right plants for their gardens.
All proceeds benefit Inniswood Metro Gardens.
Organizers encourage shoppers to come early for the best selection. Once the plants are gone, they’re gone.
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