Columbus Metropolitan Library

Some things never change: Broad & Third Streets, 1945 – Now 🚒

In 1945, Columbus Ladder Co. No. 8 was heading west on Broad Street. In the present-day photo, the call was answered by Columbus Fire Engine 2, responding from Station 2 at Third Avenue and Fulton Street.

Trinity Episcopal Church anchors both images, and remains the oldest building visible in both (1869).

Almost everything around it has changed, including the Galleria building to its right, the PNC Tower behind, and a new 15-story building further along E. Broad.

In the far distance of both images, the Seneca Hotel still stands on the corner of Grant Avenue and Broad Street. Built in 1917 and designed by Columbus architect Frank Packard, it has since been converted to apartments.

📸 Image courtesy Central Ohio Fire Museum & Learning Center.

❓Did you know? Oct. 4-10 is National Fire Prevention Week. Learn valuable fire safety tips via the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Happy Friday! Is there something special on your reading list? 😎 This week's STAFF PICKS are here:

📕 Pillow Talk by Stephanie Cooke (Siobhán, New Albany)

📗 Exit West by Mohsin Hamid (Audrey, Parsons)

📘 The Forbidden Library by Django Wexler (Kim, Southeast)

📙 Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman (Michael K., Hilliard)

A star-studded reading team! Thanks to Columbus Crew goaltenders Patrick Schulte and Stas Lapkes – plus, Crew legend Frankie Hejduk – for this very special storytime at the Karl Road Branch 📚⚽️

We call that "inspiring change" 🌟

Who do you have in the Fat Bear Week finals?!

It’s believed to be the oldest home in the county still on its original foundation – and the first post office in Franklinton 🏡

It was built around 1807 by David Deardurff, one of the earliest settlers in the neighborhood. Before it opened, the closest post office was in Chillicothe, a dangerous three-day ride on horseback.

A 13-year-old boy named Andrew McElvain became the area’s first mail carrier, delivering mail to the house once a week. Later, David Deardurff’s father Abraham was robbed and killed while delivering mail in 1815. His riderless horse returned to Franklinton on its own. The post office operated until 1834.

The home has changed over the years. Its roof and siding have been modified, as the original exterior would have exposed its hand-hewn logs. The lean-to on the east side of the structure was added around 1860.

The building was purchased in the 1970s by Lois and Walt Reiner, who planned to restore it. Walt died in 2018, and the home remains in a family trust.

Today, the nearly 226-year-old home remains on its original foundation on Gift Street, named for the land Lucas Sullivant gave away to attract Franklinton’s earliest settlers.

❗️ CORRECTION – An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that Lois Reiner, wife of Walt Reiner, died in 2025. In fact, another person named Lois Reiner died that year, and the death was mistakenly attributed.

Rumor has it, the bird was looking for a copy of "The Raven", but settled on "The Maltese Falcon" instead.

Next time you visit the Hilltop Branch, keep an eye out for this Cooper's Hawk! 😮

Happy Friday! Are you reading something good? Share it in the comments, or take inspiration from these Staff Picks 😎

📕 Prophet Song by Paul Lynch (Rachel, Northside Branch)

📗 They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib (Patrick, MLK Branch)

📘 Severance by Ling Ma (Hayes, Linden Branch)

📙 Trust by Hernan Diaz (Jeremy, Canal Wi******er Branch)

The BIG BOOK SALE is back! 🥳 We're giving our discarded library items a second chance at a well-read life from Oct. 15-18 at Main Library.

$1 – Children's Books, Vinyl Records, Comics
$2 – Adult Fiction & Nonfiction
$3 – DVDs, CDs, and Audiobooks

Thursday, October 15 | 4-7 p.m. (members only)
Friday, October 16 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday, October 17 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, October 18 | 1-4 p.m. (bag sale)

Revenue will support library programs and services and help fund future library levy campaigns via Friends of the Columbus Metropolitan Library. Find more details in the comments ⬇️

HOMETOWN HERO 🤩 Alexis Nikole Nelson (aka BlackForager) packed the house at Main Library!