Old North Columbus

Old North Columbus is a neighborhood located just north of the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Originally platted in 1847 as North Columbus, it was a separate community outside Columbus until it was annexed by the city in 1871. In the 19th century, it served as a stagecoach stop between Columbus and Worthington along the Sandusky Pike, now High Street. The neighborhood includes the North Columbus Commercial Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Geography Old North Columbus is bounded to the north by Glen Echo Ravine, to the south by Lane Avenue, to the west by the Olentangy River, and to the east by the Conway Railroad Tracks. It is part of the University District, the area surrounding the Ohio State University campus. Etymology Established as North Columbus, the name of the town largely lost relevance when it was annexed by the city of Columbus in 1871. In an effort to reestablish the neighborhood's identity, a street project was proposed in 2000 to add two arches at the north and south borders of the neighborhood bearing the neighborhood's name, Old North Columbus. In 2009, upon the building of the arches, there was a campaign led by the Olde North Columbus Preservation Society to add the letter "e" to the end of "Old", on the two arches. According to Preservation Society member Seth Golding, "Olde was the spelling in the 1850s. It's more quaint, not just old. " Despite Preservation Society claims that the spelling was supposed to be corrected, the two arches retain the original spelling of "Old". History Solomon and George W. Beers laid out and platted lots for North Columbus along the road between Clintonville and Columbus. The community was separate from the city of Columbus before its annexation in 1871. During the 19th century, North Columbus served as a stagecoach stop between downtown Columbus and Worthington. Unlike the adjacent temperance-minded neighborhood of Clintonville, North Columbus had a history of saloons and speakeasies along High Street. The Beers family also operated a mill along the Olentangy River. The Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, later Ohio State University, opened nearby in 1873. Notable and historic landmarks Old North Columbus has a number of historic structures dating back to the early 19th century. The North Columbus Commercial Historic District, centered on North High Street between Hudson and Dodridge Streets, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 1806 Beers Family Log Cabin There is also an original early 19th-century log cabin, built in 1806 by David Beers, still present in the neighborhood. The log cabin was built near present-day Dodridge Street, but was later moved to Norwich Avenue. North High School Also appearing on the National Register of Historic Places is the old North High School, a Tudor Revival building designed by architect Frank Packard, which opened on September 2, 1924. The Ramlow Building The Ramlow Building, or Ramlow Hall, on the corner of High Street and Dodridge Street is one of a handful of prominent historic buildings along High Street, which date back to the late 19th century, and are still present. Built by Catherine Volk Ramlow in 1881, the Ramlow Building was a dry goods and grocery business. Global Community United Methodist Church The Global Community United Methodist Church, formerly the North Methodist Church, was built on the corner of High Street and Wilcox Street in 1874, but was destroyed by a fire in 1929. Despite economic hardships of the Great Depression, the church was rebuilt 12 years later and dedicated on September 27, 1942 by Bishop H. Lester Smith. Medary Elementary School Medary Avenue Elementary School, located at 2500 Medary Avenue, was built in 1892 by David Riebel, who was hired as the first Columbus Public Schools architect in 1893. The three-story masonry building was built in the Richardsonian Romanesque style of architecture, which was a popular style for many public buildings throughout the late 19th century and early 20th century. Medary Elementary School closed in 2007 and the building later housed Bridgeway Academy, formerly Helping Hands Center for Special Needs. Transportation The main north-south thoroughfare through the neighborhood is High Street, and the main east-west thoroughfare is Hudson Street. From these main thoroughfares, arterial streets run east and west. These arterials include Lane Avenue and Dodridge Street, which are the only two streets in the neighborhood that bridge the Olentangy River to the west. Nearly all other streets running east-west can be classified as residential streets, most of which are one-way, in alternating directions. U.S. Route 23 also runs through Old North Columbus using Indianola Avenue, Hudson Street, Summit Street southbound, and North 4th Street northbound. Old North Columbus is also served by the Central Ohio Transit Authority bus system. Residential The residential sector of Old North Columbus has long included a mix of homeowners, renters, and students. After World War II, veterans using the G.I. Bill and other students attending Ohio State increased housing demand in the area. A 2000 planning report by Campus Partners stated that home ownership in the area dropped from more than 50 percent to about 10 percent as many large houses were converted to multi-family rental housing. Historically, off-campus housing has poor housing stock, especially in neighborhoods close to Ohio State; however, the housing is generally of better quality farther north. Commercial district Old North Columbus has a long history of restaurants, bars, and music venues. With the core of the commercial district located along High Street, businesses in the neighborhood include grocery stores, pharmacies, printing and copy services, laundromats, barber shops, salons, bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues. One long-running restaurant was The Blue Danube, which opened in 1940 and closed in 2018. The Blue Danube reopened under new ownership in April 2025. Education The former North High School building at 100 E. Arcadia Avenue housed Columbus North International School during the 2010s. As of 2026, Columbus City Schools lists Dominion Middle School at 100 E. Arcadia Avenue, while Columbus International High School is listed at 4077 Karl Road. References External links Old North Columbus Business Association University Community Business Association University Area Commission