Briggsdale (Columbus, Ohio) facts for kids
Briggsdale is a neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio. It's located on the west side of the city, within the Hilltop area. The neighborhood was named after the family of Joseph M. Briggs, who were among the first people to settle here. Joseph Briggs was an important person in the early days of the area. He helped start the Briggsdale Methodist Church, which is now called the New Horizons Methodist Church. Today, Briggsdale is close to the historic Green Lawn Cemetery and Briggs High School.
Contents
History
The Briggs Family Story
Joseph M. Briggs was born in Columbus, Ohio, on November 25, 1833. He grew up on his family's farm. Joseph went to Ohio Wesleyan University, where he met his wife, Louisiana Ransburgh. They got married on October 16, 1867. Joseph Briggs passed away on August 31, 1913. He and Louisiana are buried at Green Lawn Cemetery.
Joseph M. Briggs was a very important person in Franklin Township. He worked as a township assessor and then as a treasurer for six years. In 1880, he was chosen to be a county commissioner, a role he held for six years. As a county commissioner, Joseph helped build important bridges, like the Broad Street and State Street bridges. Starting in 1887, he was also the postmaster for Briggsdale. Joseph was a member and trustee of the Briggsdale Methodist Church and helped fund its new building. He also owned many homes in Columbus, which helped him become wealthy.
Louisiana Ransburgh, Joseph's wife, became known as the "Veiled Lady of Camp Chase." Every year, she would secretly visit the Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery (also known as Green Lawn Cemetery). She would wear dark clothes and a veil and place flowers on the graves of soldiers. Louisiana's efforts helped clean up the cemetery, which had become forgotten and overgrown.
Geography
The Briggsdale neighborhood is surrounded by several roads. Briggs Road, Eakin Road, and Hopkins Avenue are to the north. Brown Road is to the east, Demorest Road to the west, and Clime Road to the south. The neighborhood is about 0.04 square miles in size. Briggsdale is about five miles away from downtown Columbus. It's also near Harrisburg Pike (Route 62) and the railroad tracks used by the Columbus and Xenia Railroad.
Transportation
You can get around Briggsdale using the COTA bus system. The Grove City Local Lines #3 and #9 run along Harrisburg Pike, making it easy for residents to travel.
Buildings and Important Places
New Horizons Methodist Church
The Briggsdale Methodist Church started in 1822. At first, people met in a community member's home. Later, they moved to a log house on land given by Samuel White's family. A brick building replaced the log house in 1844. In 1902, a new building was built for the growing church. The church closed in 1917 but reopened in 1924. Sadly, the original building burned down in 1928. The main part of the church was rebuilt in 1929. In 2001, the Briggsdale Church joined with the Salem Heights Methodist Church to become the New Horizons United Methodist Church.
New Horizons Methodist Church is a red brick building on Harrisburg Pike. The Briggsdale Apartments are across the street. The church continues old traditions, like the Chicken and Noodle Dinner, which started over 50 years ago.
Briggs Mart
Briggs Mart is a small convenience store. It's located on Briggs Road, close to the High School.
Homes
Briggsdale Apartments
The Briggsdale Apartments are part of the Rebuilding Lives Program. This program helps people in Franklin County who don't have a permanent home. The apartments opened in March 2006. The Community Housing Network built, owns, and runs the complex. It cost less than $4 million to build. The project received a lot of support and funding from different groups. The apartments are for people who have faced challenges like mental illness or long-term homelessness.
The complex has two buildings that look like old farmhouses, honoring the original Briggs farm. It's located at 1670 Harrisburg Pike. This spot was chosen because it's close to bus stops, shops, and job opportunities. The apartments include 35 small living units. There's also a community room, a computer lab for residents, and offices for staff who are there 24 hours a day. The Community Housing Network works with another group, Southeast, Inc., to offer help like mental health support and lessons on managing money.
Education
Briggsdale School
A school building was built on Harrisburg Road in 1909. However, this building has since been taken down.
Briggs High School
Briggs High School is part of the Columbus City Schools system. It's located northwest of the neighborhood on Briggs Road. This public school serves students from 9th to 12th grade. The school colors are purple and gold, and their sports mascot is the Bruin. Briggs High School offers regular college preparation classes. It also has Advanced Placement courses and special elective classes for students.
See also
- Neighborhoods in Columbus, Ohio
