Santas at the Pool

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Shattucksburg: The Town That Disappeared

Before Columbus sprawled into the bustling city we know today, there was Shattucksburg. This small but thriving community emerged in the mid-19th century, founded by settlers drawn to the area’s fertile farmland and proximity to the Olentangy River. Named after one of its earliest settlers, Thomas Shattuck, the community quickly grew into a self-sufficient enclave. It was a place of frontier charm—simple homes, bustling shops, and local businesses served a growing population carving out their lives on Columbus’s northern edge. For decades, Shattucksburg thrived as a quieter alternative to the hustle and bustle of Downtown Columbus.

Its location near key transportation routes gave the community an advantage, allowing farmers and merchants to connect easily with nearby markets. It wasn’t long before Shattucksburg became a small but vibrant hub for families seeking opportunity on the city’s outskirts. However, its ideal location would ultimately seal its fate.

As the years ticked on, progress came calling. Shattucksburg’s prime location, just a stone’s throw from Ohio State University and Downtown, meant it couldn’t escape the long shadow of urban development. By the mid-20th century, infrastructure projects—think road expansions, utility upgrades, and residential zoning—chipped away at the neighborhood. Bit by bit, it disappeared, with many of its residents either absorbed into nearby communities or displaced altogether. By the 1970s, Shattucksburg had vanished from city maps, its identity erased under the ever-expanding Columbus footprint.

If you’re ever stuck in traffic on Henderson or Kenny Road or walking the trails near Antrim Park, take a moment—you’re standing on forgotten ground. A place that once echoed with the sounds of life and commerce has been paved over, its stories left untold.

Shattucksburg isn’t alone in Columbus’s history of burying entire neighborhoods in the name of progress. Flytown, a vibrant immigrant community northwest of Downtown, was razed during the 1950s to make way for the Goodale Expressway and housing projects. Hanford Village, a thriving Black community, was gutted to build I-70, leaving behind only whispers of its cultural legacy. In both cases, the cost of “urban renewal” was measured in livelihoods lost and histories erased.

And while Shattucksburg may not be as well-documented, its story is no less significant. It’s a reminder that Columbus’s growth hasn’t always been painless—and that the city’s bright future has often been built on the rubble of its past.

Maybe it’s time to remember these lost places and the people who called them home. Next time you’re in these areas, look around. History is layered beneath your feet. And if you’re wondering one of the things Columbus does best, it’s paving over the past while congratulating itself on the future.

Scarlet Letter Trivia

Question: In the past 25 years, which years tied for the greatest snow depth (4 inches) on Christmas Day in Columbus?

A) 2010, 2015, 2022
B) 1999, 2004, 2022
C) 2004, 2020, 2022
D) 2000, 2010, 2020

The Lazarus Christmas Parade: Columbus’s Holiday Wonderland

Allow me to remind you and or inform you about The Lazarus Christmas Parade! A spectacle that turned Downtown into a living snow globe. From the 1920s to the 1980s, this annual tradition marked the official start of Christmas in the city, drawing families from every corner to share in the magic of the season.

Picture it: floats adorned with candy cane forests and twinkling snow-covered villages rolling down Broad and High, the Ohio Statehouse glowing in the background, and marching bands playing festive tunes loud enough to warm even the coldest December day. Kids bundled in scarves and mittens pressed their noses against frosty windows, watching as Santa himself made his grand arrival at the Lazarus building.

Inside, the magic continued. Lazarus’s iconic holiday window displays came to life with scenes of bustling toy factories and prancing reindeer. The much-loved Talking Tree greeted wide-eyed children, doling out holiday cheer (and maybe some unsolicited advice). And let’s not forget the smell of roasted chestnuts and hot cocoa wafting through the crisp winter air—it was the kind of magic that no two-day shipping can deliver.

But as Columbus grew and shifted, so did its holiday traditions. The rise of suburban malls in the 1980s drew shoppers away from Downtown, and with them went the parade. While the Lazarus building remains, reimagined for modern use, the parade exists only in memories and perhaps a few grainy family photos stuffed in shoeboxes.

Still, the spirit of the Lazarus Christmas Parade lingers. The Lazarus Light Canopy continues to shine Downtown each holiday season, a twinkling reminder of the festivities that once graced the city’s streets. Events like the Holiday Lights Festival and German Village’s Village Lights bring their own brand of holiday magic, but there’s something uniquely nostalgic about imagining reindeer trotting past the LeVeque Tower.

Next time you’re at Broad and High, take a moment to remember a time when Columbus celebrated the holidays with a little more flair and a lot more community. Who knows? Maybe you’ll hear the echo of jingle bells or catch a glimpse of Santa waving from a float.

Because while Columbus has changed, the spirit of the season—and the memories of what once was—are gifts worth cherishing.

The Columbus Aquatics Center Legacy: A Hidden Treasure in the Short North

Tucked away off Hunter Avenue in Victorian Village, near the bustling Short North, lies a hidden warm oasis of Columbus’s golden era of public recreation: the Columbus Aquatics Center. Since 1972, this indoor pool has quietly served as a hub for community connection, outlasting countless other public pools that once defined summers in the city.

At its peak, the Columbus Aquatics Center was a crown jewel of civic pride. With its full-size indoor pool, diving boards, and a spectator area, the facility wasn’t just a place for a quick swim—it was a gathering spot for swim meets, water aerobics, and childhood swim lessons. Remarkably, it’s still open today, offering affordable programming for all ages and skill levels.

Inside, the air is warm and humid, carrying the faint scent of chlorine, while the sound of splashing water echoes as children learn to swim, seniors glide through water aerobics, and lap swimmers quietly cut through the lanes.

This unassuming space offers six 25-yard swim lanes, a baby pool, and a diving well with 1-meter and 3-meter diving boards—all available year-round. It’s a timeless treasure tucked into one of Columbus’s most modern neighborhoods, a reminder of what public spaces can and should be.

The programming is as accessible as the pool itself. For just $15 per session, kids, teens, and adults can enroll in swimming lessons, from Pre-K beginners to advanced adult classes. Water fitness classes, like Deep Water and Low-Impact Fitness, keep bodies healthy and spirits buoyant. With daily admission requiring only a Columbus Recreation and Parks Leisure Card and an entry fee or pass, it’s one of the city’s most affordable community resources.

Yet the Aquatics Center’s survival is no small feat. Many of its counterparts across Columbus have fallen victim to budget cuts and shifting priorities, but this facility has remained afloat, thanks to its central location and continued relevance to the community. It’s a reminder that public investments can create something enduring a place where everyone, regardless of background or income, can gather and grow.

While the Short North buzzes with trendy restaurants and boutique shops, the Columbus Aquatics Center is quietly keeping the spirit of true public service alive. Maybe it’s not flashy, but it’s deeply meaningful—a space where a few tax dollars go a long way toward creating health, connection, and opportunity.

So, the next time you’re navigating the Short North’s crowded streets, take a detour and check it out. Whether you want to escape the cold winter air for a lap swim or sign up for a class to kick off your New Year’s resolution early, this hidden treasure is ready to welcome you. After all, isn’t that what public spaces are supposed to do?

Trivia Answer:

C: 2004, 2020, 2022