Upper Arlington, Streetcar Suburb

Upper Arlington, OhioThe picturesque vision of Ben and King Thompson

Upper Arlington, Ohio 2

BACKGROUND

Columbus is seated in the center of Ohio. Since this was an ideal location to

establish a capital, plans for a state Capitol building were developed in 1812.

The building was erected at the corner of Broad and High Streets, which

today is considered to be the center of town.

In 1863, Columbus’ first horse-drawn streetcar ran along High Street. After

the Civil War, Columbus buggy production was a significant business in the

city. Additionally, streetcar lines became an integral form of transportation

throughout the city. Electric streetcars appeared in 1888 and, because of

their speed and cleanliness, this became the preferred mode of streetcar

travel.

In 1910, strife hit Columbus when a streetcar strike threatened to disable the

city. Desiring higher wages and union recognition, the Amalgamated

Association of Street and Electric Railway Employees (AASERE) held a strike

against the Columbus Railway and Light Company. The strike lasted for ten

weeks, beginning at the end of April 1910. Twenty-four streetcars were

destroyed and unrest necessitated intervention from the National Guard.

Although peace was restored in July, the strike lasted into October of the

same year.

from Columbus Metropolitan Library digital collection

Google map image


1872 birds-eye view of Columbus, Ohio. The Ohio State Capitol sits in the middle of the city, east of the Scioto River. from Columbus Metropolitan Library digital collection


“Permit to Walk” from The Columbus Walking Club from Columbus Metropolitan Library digital collection


Originally named the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, The Ohio

State University was established in 1870. The university is located to the east

of Upper Arlington. Despite the adjacency of the university to Upper

Arlington, no streetcar directly connected the two areas. Instead, a rider

destined for The Ohio State University from Upper Arlington would have had

to travel south and east to Columbus, and then transfer lines to head north.

Aerial photo of Ohio State circa 1911

Section of 1927 streetcar map showing Upper Arlington and Ohio State University

Free rides available during strikeColumbus Metropolitan Library digital collection

Streetcar damaged during 1910 strike Columbus Metropolitan Library digital collection


BEGINNINGS

Upper Arlington—initially designated the Country Club District—was the vision

of two brothers—Ben and King Thompson. The Thompsons had experience with

real estate development in other areas around the city and envisioned a high-

class residential area, similar to the Country Club development that was growing

in Kansas City. The Thompsons knew, from previous experience, that they would

need a large area of land in order for their endeavor to be successful. After

finding land that was suitable for their dream, in 1913, they secured and

purchased over 800 acres of farmland from James Miller.

For several reasons, the Miller land was a splendid location for a new residential

area. In common real estate parlance of today, the most important need met

was, “location, location, location.” The farmland was located upriver and on

higher ground, and was in close proximity to both Columbus and The Ohio State

University. This adjacency provided access to established services of those two

areas, including transportation to and from downtown. Streetcar service

extended to the southern edge of what was to be the Country Club District.

Further, this area was located west of the city and therefore did not have factory

pollution blowing toward it. The air of this residential area would be, “pure and

free from contaminations usual in cities.”

King G. Thompson from “The History of Upper Arlington”

Ben Thompson from “The History of Upper Arlington”


Landscape architect William Pitkin, Jr. developed the plan for the Country Club District. Pitkin envisioned the development as a

picturesque plan that made use of the natural curving landscape, similar to that designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert

Vaux at Riverside, Illinois. Like Riverside, the curving street plan of the Country Club District created parks at intersections. This

can be seen at Triangle Park, formed at the intersection of Arlington Avenue and Cambridge Boulevard. As a landscape architect,

Pitkin was concerned with the use of the natural terrain and landscape features for the siting of homes. In an article published in

a 1920 issue of “Architecture” he addresses the importance of teaming architect with landscape architect in the design and

siting of residences.

Original Pitkin plan for Upper Arlington from early edition of the “Nortwester”


The first six homes in the Country Club District were completed in 1915. Five

of these homes were located along the first streets of the development,

either one street east or one street west of the Arlington Avenue streetcar

stop. The street to the east—Cambridge Avenue—was given a stone entryway

to signify entrance into the development. Designed in historical styles, the

homes were set back from the street (no less than sixty feet) on the deep lots.

This allowed for significant interstitial space, which gave a sense of privacy to

the residents. Additionally, this large space, along with the tree-lined buffer

between street and lot, created a park-like setting in the midst of the

residential area. An early visualization of the plan shows tree-lined streets and

sidewalks. Without transportation sources or homes in the image, this vision

gave the idea of an idyllic park to potential residents. The imagery of a quiet,

park setting was in contrast to many residential areas in Columbus, where

homes sat at the front of lots, close to the street. Additionally, downtown

plans sat homes close to each other, perhaps increasing a sense of

community, but missing the element of familial privacy.

1634 Cambridge BoulevardOwned by Edward Amos, insurance Manager.

UA Archives

1740 Roxbury RoadOwned by H.W. Carmack, District Manager for coffee

manufacturing company. During the Camp Willis months, the family needed a military pass to enter.

UA Archives


1918 advertising imagery for the new Country Club District.


1921 Sanborn Map showing Triangle Park (previously known as Bedford Park) and the first home finished in Upper Arlington.

First house finished in Upper Arlington at 1722 Bedford Road

from “The History of Upper Arlington”

Triangle ParkUA Archives


Street section at Cambridge Boulevard. Homes are set back from the street, with a 21’ interstitial space. Lot width allows comfortable distance between homes; each lot is like an individual park.


1921 Sanborn Map of residential area in downtown Columbus. Dwellings did not have the spacious setbacks found in Upper Arlington.

1920s home in downtown Columbus, with short setback


Entrance to Upper Arlington at Cambridge Boulevard in 1915UA Archives

Entrance to Upper Arlington at Cambridge Boulevard in 1918UA Archives


An appropriate neighbor of the Country Club District, the Scioto Country Club opened in 1916. However, that same year, growth of

the district was stalled when the National Guard began to use the land. Called Camp Willis, the area was used as training grounds

for 8,000 servicemen. When the camp was removed later in the year, residential development began again. In 1918, now known as

Upper Arlington, the development was incorporated into a village.

Upper Arlington had restrictive covenants that disallowed blacks (other than servants) to live in the area. Additionally, Jewish

individuals were not permitted to purchase homes there. A circa 1919 advertisement asserted that Upper Arlington was the “largest

restricted residential district of Columbus.” The same advertisement boasts of the incorporation, free schools, the best plans for

parks and development, and “better auto and street car facilities than any other.”

Section of brochure c.1917 from “The History of Upper Arlington”

Advertisement c.1919 from “The History of Upper Arlington”


1927 aerial photo of mallway and school From “The History of Upper Arlington”

Apartment house near mallway in 1927 from “Images of American: Upper Arlington”

PROGRESS

In the 1920s, the park-like setting took on characteristics of a village when

the Pitkin plan was altered to allow for “the mallway.” The Mall provided an

essential area for businesses. Also in the 1920s, apartments, which were not

previously allowed, were built and the streetcar line was extended into

Upper Arlington. While the specific stops are unknown, the path of the

streetcar went past the business mallway and turned on a nearby street that

held several apartment buildings. Not far from here, a group of smaller

homes were built in the early 1920s as well. This decade was a period of

rapid growth for Upper Arlington. Of course, growth slowed, almost to a

halt, after the stock market crash of 1929. The streetcar (Arlington line) that

served Upper Arlington discontinued service in 1936.

Shops at Arlington Avenue c.1935from “Images of American: Upper Arlington


Plan of Upper Arlington along the streetcar line. The Miller Park stop was at the eastern corner of the park (open diamond shaped space in the middle of the plan). To the north is the mallway, with shopping, businesses, school, and pool.

Aerial view of Miller Park in 1939 (post-streetcar). from “The History of Upper Arlington”

Miller Park streetcar stopUA Archives


Upper Arlington High School c.1930sfrom “History of Upper Arlington”

Devon Road pool – first public pool c. 1929 from “The History of Upper Arlington”

Early growth in Upper Arlington, which became a city in 1941, can be seen

through the development of public services. Education, for example, was

seen as an amenity of high importance to the Thompson brothers. In 1917,

King Thompson opened a school in a basement playroom of his home. As

enrollment grew, buildings designed for the purposes of use as schools were

constructed. The first of these was made out of wood leftover from Camp

Willis. Finally, in 1924, a permanent school building was constructed next to

the Mall. Originally housing all students, the building was later used as

Upper Arlington High School. Currently, the 1924 building (and additions)

serves as a Middle School.

Next to the school was the first public pool, the Devon Road pool, which

opened in 1928. This was a valued amenity to many Upper Arlington

children. With such a central location, children of Upper Arlington were able

to go to the school, pool, or shops without walking far.

As in many cities across the United States, there was significant growth in

Upper Arlington after World War II. Between 1939 and 1950, the population

tripled. Similar to the general housing trend of the post-war era, homes in

these new areas were constructed on streets that were laid out in a grid.

Additionally, similar to those found in areas such as Levittown, New York,


Street grid in Upper Arlington, area developed post-WWIIfrom Google Maps

2314 Woodstock – post-WWII era UA homefrom Google Maps

they were designed as smaller “Cape Cod” single-story homes. Later, in the

1960s, new homes in Upper Arlington were again built as larger residences

on picturesque lots. The difference however, almost fifty years after the

inception of the development, was that the home design did not retain

elements of historicism, but instead took on more modern styles.

Growth of Upper Arlington was always carefully considered. Now ten square

miles in size, annexation opportunities were thoroughly evaluated with

regard to the cost that would be incurred in ensuring streets and utilities

were up to Upper Arlington standards. In the 1970s, it was decided that the

city would not expand beyond current size. This high level of standards for

the city is one factor that continues to make Upper Arlington a desirable

neighborhood. As is written on the Upper Arlington website today,

Over the decades, the community has often been a leader in

setting the standard for quality of life expectations. The City

boasts an extensive and well-used network of community parks

with a rich variety of active and passive recreational

opportunities. Community gatherings and celebrations are the

standard not the exception here, including a resident-driven

Fourth of July parade and festival, the region's premier one-day

arts festival, summer concerts and more.


Upper Arlington cartoon c.1941 from “The History of Upper Arlington”

Long gone are the days of the streetcars, now replaced by

buses and automobiles, but Upper Arlington has retained

much of its original charm. The homes built in the 1900s

have had additions, and trees have grown large and

beautiful. The parks and public areas have been enhanced

and are popular destinations for residents. New shopping

areas have opened and old ones maintain their charm.

Upper Arlington may have grown beyond the vision of Ben

and King Thompson, but their plan was effective for

providing a picturesque, attractive place for living.