Fifth Street in Columbus was not only an interesting place; it was downright dangerous.
Cheap Joe’s, located at 120 Fifth St. S. burned to the ground. So did the bank located next door. The owner of a jewelry store on the corner of Fifth and Main shot a traveling salesman whom he suspected with having an affair with his wife (You can never trust those traveling salesmen, you know.).
Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it, the old saying goes.
For the sake of Fifth Street, let’s hope not.
Main Street Columbus held its first “Historic Downtown Walk” Thursday evening to kick off its annual “First Thursday” program. The premise was to entice history buffs and shoppers to the 17 downtown businesses participating in the event.
Visitors picked up fact sheets with 17 questions and were asked to match each historical fact with the corresponding shop.
Anyone who successfully matched 10 facts to the historical facts of the shops was eligible for the $500 gift basket awarded at the end of the evening.
Although rain certainly affected attendance, the idea is worthy of praise.
The city of Columbus has many charms, not the least of which is the colorful history of our downtown. While Thursday’s event was designed to attract people to the participating shops and stores, we also applaud the event because it inspires our residents to learn more about their hometown and its history.
Chances are even long-time residents were stumped by some of the questions.
For example, did you know that Mother Goose was a fixture on Fifth Street long before Edwina Williams first donned her apron and flowered hat? The Mother Goose Candy Factory operated in what is now Bella Derma.
Cheap Joe’s burned down, but was rebuilt and is now the location of Bride and Groom. The bank that burned down is now Beard’s Antiques. Holly Hock’s was once the location of Gunter Funeral Home. Bella Interiors was formerly a Ford dealership (before it was a Coca-Cola bottling plant). The Fashion Barn was once the city’s first modern grocery store (before it was a drug store).
As for the property once operated by First Amendment advocate/jewelry store owner, the building now serves as the home of the Columbus Arts Center.
While none of these facts were likely to produce any life-altering epiphanies, there is something endearing about connecting with the old days of Columbus, to think about what life must have been like back then and consider the present day and how it too, one day, will be considered part of this community’s colorful history.
With the exception of traveling salesmen with low morals, we encourage everyone to patronize our downtown shops and become familiar with the rich history of downtown Columbus.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.