Columbus-Metropolitan Library Genealogical Collection!

    The goal in coming to Columbus was to visit the Columbus Metropolitan Public Library (main branch) in the downtown area and take advantage of their genealogy collection.  The collection is a combination of the State Library collection and Franklin County Genealogical and Historical Society collection which were transferred there several years ago.  

     Wednesday, August 17th, I spent a wonderful day at the Columbus Metropolitan Library.  It is a white brick rectangular building.  They have somehow successfully remodeled the interior while preserving the older exterior walls.  Parking is easy to find by heading for the Library Park Street to the north of the building.  It is underground and under the library and reasonably priced at no more than $10.00 a day with the first hour being free.  Getting up to the main library is also easy.  You hop on the elevator and it deposits you in the lobby area.  Take your parking ticket for you have to pay in the lobby area by the cafe or you can’t get out of the parking garage! 

     There is a small cafe area.  This was good to see because restaurants are not close to the library.  I was able to get a sandwich and a cup of coffee later in the day and not have to walk back to the car to retrieve my other stash.

Columbus Metropolitan Library - Main Branch

     The Genealogy collection is on the third floor to the left of the elevators and the staircase.  Newspapers are located on the third floor but in the opposite direction.  They have a cheat sheet printout describing their newspaper collection. 

    You can look down into the main reference area of the main library from the third floor.   The hours are more generous than other archives so you can work from 9 am to 9 pm Monday to Thursday, Friday and Saturday are 9 to 6 pm, if you so desire.  I managed up to about 6:30 pm. 

Looking down from the 3rd Floor CML

     I found the librarians to be very pleasant and helpful.  One assisted me in determining where the murder of a g-great grandparent may have occurred.  I spent most of the time working through the surname files of the Franklin County Genealogical and Historical Society.  I had called them before leaving on this trip and was told that you can get surname cross-reference lists from them that are not available at the library.  So they sent me several pages and I spent some time looking at various names and adding more surnames as I worked.  I found some interesting information but nothing to solve my genealogical puzzles.  Still it was worth checking them out.  I also consulted the nice collection of county Atlases.  Several other researchers were deep into their city directory collection. 

    I attacked their stacks of books and was pulling off piles of them to review like cemetery records for Franklin County and Knox and other books I found that looked interesting.  So if you are like me and like to browse a collection then this library is a must.  They have Ohio books and other states as well.   My interests are in Franklin, Knox, Hardin, Morrow, Portage, Montgomery and Washington Counties.  At this time I am in the process of eliminating Franklin County records.  They also had microfilm’s of Franklin County Records which I didn’t have time to review and a lot more. 

The Stacks!!!

     I left the library reluctantly but my brain was fried and drove back to Short North easily from State Street.  I decided to stop at the Giant Eagle and get a salad at their wonderful salad and olive bar.  I took it  back to the B&B to enjoy.  This Giant Eagle Market it on Buttles and Neil west of High Street and passed the park where all the dogs were having fun carrying and chasing their balls and walking with their humans. It is called Goodale Park and it is big and green. 

     It was a well spent day and I was contemplating returning.  I highly recommend this library as a stop for genealogical research.  I am pleased with the 50 Lincoln Short North B&B being nicely located and was finding it easy to get around.  I get a great breakfast and friendly conversation in the morning.  The manager and her assistant are very nice and helpful.  You probably won’t get this friendly service in the Hyatt down the street in the center of town.

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Columbus, Ohio – Short North and More!

      Tuesday, August 16th was a day of travel.  It always takes me one day to get to the other side of the Continental United States.  This time I did the connection in Minneapolis which is very different.  I usually fly to Chicago and then to the final destination.  I walked almost the whole Minneapolis/St. Paul airport to get to my next flight and just handed the attendant my ticket for checking and walked right on.  No waiting at the gate.  My bags also arrived at Columbus, so I was happy.  Obtaining the rental car was unique.  Thrifty let me decide which economy car I wanted to drive so I got to choose.  I took the steel-gray Aveo and I was soon off to downtown Columbus.

Marcella's - Short North, Columbus, OH

     Driving along Broad street west towards the city I found myself viewing wonderful old stately houses with significant front yards on both sides of the street.  Most had porches with columns and several floors and there was a lot of brick and stone.  It took several blocks to get to the downtown area.  I turned north on 4th (23) and headed up to the neighborhood they call Short North!  I was told it means “short of downtown.”  I was also told it used to be scary but now it is filled with shops of clothes and specialty items along with art galleries.  Mostly it is filled with restaurants and lots of them.  They have these metal arches across the roadway.  To get to Short North you pass the rather new looking convention center which goes on for several blocks. 

     I found my B&B easily and proceeded to the parking area in the back and had to stop for a brown furry creature that looked almost like a beaver but was too small and didn’t have the flat tail.  It was contemplating crossing the road but decided to retreat and let me pass. 

50 Lincoln Short North B&B

     The B&B I had selected was 50 Lincoln-Short North.  It had its name slightly altered after being purchased in the past few years.  It is a stately brick building with roses and lovely landscaping surrounding it.  It is situated within walking distance of High Street and the many restaurants.  It took awhile for me to get situated in my room. The reason was the very steep stairs to the 2nd floor where my room was located.  Other than that, it is a lovely home.  There is a large area where the dining room is situated.  The kitchen is in the back.  There is a parlor off the dining room.  There are 2 floors with several rooms on each.  My room was lovely and had a desk!

      Once I had brought the luggage in, I headed out to explore and found Marcella’s.  The waitress seated me at the window and I realized later there was no window.  It was wide open to the street.  The restaurant was noisy and full.  I had a ravioli dish which was interesting.  The sauce was more of an oil than a cream sauce.  The ladies seated across from me were celebrating a birthday of one of their friends and they bought her a triple cream puff.  They also were singing to her quietly “Happy Birthday.” 

     As I sat there enjoying my meal I observed lots of motorcycles driving by, runners out for their exercise, a lady on a pink scouter who zipped by.  Couples were walking along and taxi’s were bringing people into the area.  It was very active.

Wedding Dress Shop

Dog Food and Treats Store Short North, Columbus, Ohio

     The walk back to the B&B was easy even though it was a tad muggy. 

     So Short North is just north of the downtown area where the Columbus Metropolitan Library is located on Grant and State Streets.  North is the Ohio Historical Society on 17th and a little past Velma about two miles maybe slight more.  If you want to go to the State Library that is close and then there are the courts in the downtown area.  Very easy to get around and I did not experience any traffic that wasn’t easy to handle even for a city. 

Short North, Columbus, Ohio

     I settled in for the night ready for my day of research at the Columbus Metropolitan Library.  Oh yes, I ran into my furry friend again on the path next to he B&B but he again decided to retreat to the backyard!

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