upper arlington, streetcar suburb
TRANSCRIPT
Upper Arlington, OhioThe picturesque vision of Ben and King Thompson
Upper Arlington, Ohio 2
BACKGROUND
Columbus is seated in the center of Ohio. Since this was an ideal location to
establish a capital, plans for a state Capitol building were developed in 1812.
The building was erected at the corner of Broad and High Streets, which
today is considered to be the center of town.
In 1863, Columbus’ first horse-drawn streetcar ran along High Street. After
the Civil War, Columbus buggy production was a significant business in the
city. Additionally, streetcar lines became an integral form of transportation
throughout the city. Electric streetcars appeared in 1888 and, because of
their speed and cleanliness, this became the preferred mode of streetcar
travel.
In 1910, strife hit Columbus when a streetcar strike threatened to disable the
city. Desiring higher wages and union recognition, the Amalgamated
Association of Street and Electric Railway Employees (AASERE) held a strike
against the Columbus Railway and Light Company. The strike lasted for ten
weeks, beginning at the end of April 1910. Twenty-four streetcars were
destroyed and unrest necessitated intervention from the National Guard.
Although peace was restored in July, the strike lasted into October of the
same year.
from Columbus Metropolitan Library digital collection
Google map image
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1872 birds-eye view of Columbus, Ohio. The Ohio State Capitol sits in the middle of the city, east of the Scioto River. from Columbus Metropolitan Library digital collection
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“Permit to Walk” from The Columbus Walking Club from Columbus Metropolitan Library digital collection
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Originally named the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, The Ohio
State University was established in 1870. The university is located to the east
of Upper Arlington. Despite the adjacency of the university to Upper
Arlington, no streetcar directly connected the two areas. Instead, a rider
destined for The Ohio State University from Upper Arlington would have had
to travel south and east to Columbus, and then transfer lines to head north.
Aerial photo of Ohio State circa 1911
Section of 1927 streetcar map showing Upper Arlington and Ohio State University
Free rides available during strikeColumbus Metropolitan Library digital collection
Streetcar damaged during 1910 strike Columbus Metropolitan Library digital collection
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BEGINNINGS
Upper Arlington—initially designated the Country Club District—was the vision
of two brothers—Ben and King Thompson. The Thompsons had experience with
real estate development in other areas around the city and envisioned a high-
class residential area, similar to the Country Club development that was growing
in Kansas City. The Thompsons knew, from previous experience, that they would
need a large area of land in order for their endeavor to be successful. After
finding land that was suitable for their dream, in 1913, they secured and
purchased over 800 acres of farmland from James Miller.
For several reasons, the Miller land was a splendid location for a new residential
area. In common real estate parlance of today, the most important need met
was, “location, location, location.” The farmland was located upriver and on
higher ground, and was in close proximity to both Columbus and The Ohio State
University. This adjacency provided access to established services of those two
areas, including transportation to and from downtown. Streetcar service
extended to the southern edge of what was to be the Country Club District.
Further, this area was located west of the city and therefore did not have factory
pollution blowing toward it. The air of this residential area would be, “pure and
free from contaminations usual in cities.”
King G. Thompson from “The History of Upper Arlington”
Ben Thompson from “The History of Upper Arlington”
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Landscape architect William Pitkin, Jr. developed the plan for the Country Club District. Pitkin envisioned the development as a
picturesque plan that made use of the natural curving landscape, similar to that designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert
Vaux at Riverside, Illinois. Like Riverside, the curving street plan of the Country Club District created parks at intersections. This
can be seen at Triangle Park, formed at the intersection of Arlington Avenue and Cambridge Boulevard. As a landscape architect,
Pitkin was concerned with the use of the natural terrain and landscape features for the siting of homes. In an article published in
a 1920 issue of “Architecture” he addresses the importance of teaming architect with landscape architect in the design and
siting of residences.
Original Pitkin plan for Upper Arlington from early edition of the “Nortwester”
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The first six homes in the Country Club District were completed in 1915. Five
of these homes were located along the first streets of the development,
either one street east or one street west of the Arlington Avenue streetcar
stop. The street to the east—Cambridge Avenue—was given a stone entryway
to signify entrance into the development. Designed in historical styles, the
homes were set back from the street (no less than sixty feet) on the deep lots.
This allowed for significant interstitial space, which gave a sense of privacy to
the residents. Additionally, this large space, along with the tree-lined buffer
between street and lot, created a park-like setting in the midst of the
residential area. An early visualization of the plan shows tree-lined streets and
sidewalks. Without transportation sources or homes in the image, this vision
gave the idea of an idyllic park to potential residents. The imagery of a quiet,
park setting was in contrast to many residential areas in Columbus, where
homes sat at the front of lots, close to the street. Additionally, downtown
plans sat homes close to each other, perhaps increasing a sense of
community, but missing the element of familial privacy.
1634 Cambridge BoulevardOwned by Edward Amos, insurance Manager.
UA Archives
1740 Roxbury RoadOwned by H.W. Carmack, District Manager for coffee
manufacturing company. During the Camp Willis months, the family needed a military pass to enter.
UA Archives
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1918 advertising imagery for the new Country Club District.
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1921 Sanborn Map showing Triangle Park (previously known as Bedford Park) and the first home finished in Upper Arlington.
First house finished in Upper Arlington at 1722 Bedford Road
from “The History of Upper Arlington”
Triangle ParkUA Archives
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Street section at Cambridge Boulevard. Homes are set back from the street, with a 21’ interstitial space. Lot width allows comfortable distance between homes; each lot is like an individual park.
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1921 Sanborn Map of residential area in downtown Columbus. Dwellings did not have the spacious setbacks found in Upper Arlington.
1920s home in downtown Columbus, with short setback
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Entrance to Upper Arlington at Cambridge Boulevard in 1915UA Archives
Entrance to Upper Arlington at Cambridge Boulevard in 1918UA Archives
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An appropriate neighbor of the Country Club District, the Scioto Country Club opened in 1916. However, that same year, growth of
the district was stalled when the National Guard began to use the land. Called Camp Willis, the area was used as training grounds
for 8,000 servicemen. When the camp was removed later in the year, residential development began again. In 1918, now known as
Upper Arlington, the development was incorporated into a village.
Upper Arlington had restrictive covenants that disallowed blacks (other than servants) to live in the area. Additionally, Jewish
individuals were not permitted to purchase homes there. A circa 1919 advertisement asserted that Upper Arlington was the “largest
restricted residential district of Columbus.” The same advertisement boasts of the incorporation, free schools, the best plans for
parks and development, and “better auto and street car facilities than any other.”
Section of brochure c.1917 from “The History of Upper Arlington”
Advertisement c.1919 from “The History of Upper Arlington”
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1927 aerial photo of mallway and school From “The History of Upper Arlington”
Apartment house near mallway in 1927 from “Images of American: Upper Arlington”
PROGRESS
In the 1920s, the park-like setting took on characteristics of a village when
the Pitkin plan was altered to allow for “the mallway.” The Mall provided an
essential area for businesses. Also in the 1920s, apartments, which were not
previously allowed, were built and the streetcar line was extended into
Upper Arlington. While the specific stops are unknown, the path of the
streetcar went past the business mallway and turned on a nearby street that
held several apartment buildings. Not far from here, a group of smaller
homes were built in the early 1920s as well. This decade was a period of
rapid growth for Upper Arlington. Of course, growth slowed, almost to a
halt, after the stock market crash of 1929. The streetcar (Arlington line) that
served Upper Arlington discontinued service in 1936.
Shops at Arlington Avenue c.1935from “Images of American: Upper Arlington
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Plan of Upper Arlington along the streetcar line. The Miller Park stop was at the eastern corner of the park (open diamond shaped space in the middle of the plan). To the north is the mallway, with shopping, businesses, school, and pool.
Aerial view of Miller Park in 1939 (post-streetcar). from “The History of Upper Arlington”
Miller Park streetcar stopUA Archives
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Upper Arlington High School c.1930sfrom “History of Upper Arlington”
Devon Road pool – first public pool c. 1929 from “The History of Upper Arlington”
Early growth in Upper Arlington, which became a city in 1941, can be seen
through the development of public services. Education, for example, was
seen as an amenity of high importance to the Thompson brothers. In 1917,
King Thompson opened a school in a basement playroom of his home. As
enrollment grew, buildings designed for the purposes of use as schools were
constructed. The first of these was made out of wood leftover from Camp
Willis. Finally, in 1924, a permanent school building was constructed next to
the Mall. Originally housing all students, the building was later used as
Upper Arlington High School. Currently, the 1924 building (and additions)
serves as a Middle School.
Next to the school was the first public pool, the Devon Road pool, which
opened in 1928. This was a valued amenity to many Upper Arlington
children. With such a central location, children of Upper Arlington were able
to go to the school, pool, or shops without walking far.
As in many cities across the United States, there was significant growth in
Upper Arlington after World War II. Between 1939 and 1950, the population
tripled. Similar to the general housing trend of the post-war era, homes in
these new areas were constructed on streets that were laid out in a grid.
Additionally, similar to those found in areas such as Levittown, New York,
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Street grid in Upper Arlington, area developed post-WWIIfrom Google Maps
2314 Woodstock – post-WWII era UA homefrom Google Maps
they were designed as smaller “Cape Cod” single-story homes. Later, in the
1960s, new homes in Upper Arlington were again built as larger residences
on picturesque lots. The difference however, almost fifty years after the
inception of the development, was that the home design did not retain
elements of historicism, but instead took on more modern styles.
Growth of Upper Arlington was always carefully considered. Now ten square
miles in size, annexation opportunities were thoroughly evaluated with
regard to the cost that would be incurred in ensuring streets and utilities
were up to Upper Arlington standards. In the 1970s, it was decided that the
city would not expand beyond current size. This high level of standards for
the city is one factor that continues to make Upper Arlington a desirable
neighborhood. As is written on the Upper Arlington website today,
Over the decades, the community has often been a leader in
setting the standard for quality of life expectations. The City
boasts an extensive and well-used network of community parks
with a rich variety of active and passive recreational
opportunities. Community gatherings and celebrations are the
standard not the exception here, including a resident-driven
Fourth of July parade and festival, the region's premier one-day
arts festival, summer concerts and more.
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Upper Arlington cartoon c.1941 from “The History of Upper Arlington”
Long gone are the days of the streetcars, now replaced by
buses and automobiles, but Upper Arlington has retained
much of its original charm. The homes built in the 1900s
have had additions, and trees have grown large and
beautiful. The parks and public areas have been enhanced
and are popular destinations for residents. New shopping
areas have opened and old ones maintain their charm.
Upper Arlington may have grown beyond the vision of Ben
and King Thompson, but their plan was effective for
providing a picturesque, attractive place for living.