Reynoldsburg’s Heritage

     The growth and development that makes Reynoldsburg such a good place to live and work began soon after the American Revolution, when the Continental Congress awarded former military men land in the Refugee Tract. In 1802 James and Martha Crawford were the pioneer settlers here. In 1803 Thomas Palmer of Massachusetts became first to live on the site of Reynoldsburg. Descendants of many early settlers have chosen to stay in the area.

     One hundred fifteen families were living in Truro Township when the village of Reynoldsburg, 55 lots, was platted in 1831 on John D. French’s land. He may have been persuaded to do this by the coming through of the National Road from the East Coast, or by his boarder James C. Reynolds, whose visionary and energetic leadership made him sutler, postmaster, brigadier general in the militia, representative in Ohio’s General Assembly, promoter and builder. Reynolds had the daring and enterprise to seize opportunities and create progress; people named the town for him.

     In March 1839, the village of Reynoldsburg was incorporated. From about that time through the Civil War, Reynoldsburg was active in the Underground Railroad, transporting and briefly sheltering many fugitive slaves on their way to other “free states” and Canada.

  Livingston House

     Alexander W. Livingston, a plant and seed merchant born in 1821, was an internationally acclaimed horticulturist known for his development of the tomato for commercial use.  His family resided in Reynoldsburg.

     In 1852, Livingston purchased seventy acres of land east of Graham Road on both sides of Palmer Road. It was on this land that A.W. Livingston Buckeye Seed Gardens were located. 

     Livingston spent years on his farm as he experimented and studied ways to develop improved vegetables for his trade as a plant and seed merchant.  When Alexander W. Livingston began his attempt to develop the tomato as a commercial crop, his aim was to grow tomatoes with a smooth contour, better flavor and the ability to be processed commercially without losing significant quality. 

     In 1870, Alexander introduced the Paragon tomato and as they say, the rest is history.  The popularity of the tomato has grown to the point that it is grown in every state in the union.

     In 1898, Alexander Livingston died, but not before contributing to Reynoldsburg’s history and the history of agriculture in the United States.

     In 1965, the Franklin County Historical Society recognized Reynoldsburg as “The Home of the Tomato” and to honor this great man our City holds an annual festival in recognition of his vast accomplishments in agriculture. It is called the Tomato Festival and is held in September.

     The Alexander W. Livingston House at 1792 Graham Road is owned by the city and administered by the Livingston House Society. The Livingston House Society presents several musical evenings and other events on the lawn in the summers. On the third Sunday of June, July, and August band concerts are held, with an ice cream social in August. The house is open to the public and available for meetings and programs.

     The Livingston House is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1864-1865 under the direction of horticulturist Alexander W. Livingston, who is world-famous as the developer of the tomato into a stable commercial crop. Here on Livingston’s acreage were grown not only tomatoes, but sweet corn, cabbage, and other vegetables that Livingston brought to perfection for the seed industry. The house, home to Alex and Matilda and their ten children, has been restored as nearly as possible to its original look and finish, and is being furnished with period objects, furniture, and clothing, on loan to the Livingston House Society.

     In front of the house, the 1800’s clock flower garden, with a sundial in the center, is cared for by the Four Seasons Garden Club. The flowers planted there are period correct.

     The house itself has a warm, lived-in, loved-in feeling, light and pleasant, with beautifully finished woodwork. It is well worth a visit to see Alexander Livingston’s house and hear stories about things that happened there.

  Heritage Center & Museum

     The Reynoldsburg-Truro Historical Society House is open to the public. The house was moved in autumn 1993 to its present location at Jackson and Broadwyn (1485 Jackson St.) in the center of Olde Reynoldsburg. A mid-nineteenth-century farmhouse that once faced State Route 256 at Livingston Avenue; this is half of the original house believed to have been built between 1848 and 1850. (The other half, curiously enough, was moved early in this century and now stands a block away. The two halves are back to back.) The house is refurbished, and used as a museum, learning center and meeting place.  

     The house is sited on a small hill, beautifully landscaped. The interior has hardwood floors and woodwork of interesting design. For half a house it is quite roomy, with three bedrooms, two baths, and a living room, parlor with a small fireplace, kitchen, and dining room, plus a spacious modern-day addition. Off the kitchen are the stile stairs, one set going to the upstairs, the other leading to the basement. The basement contains a large meeting room, kitchen, handicap accessible restrooms and offices. Its many years of continual occupancy have given this house a light, airy, pleasant and happy feeling.

Tour Information contact:
Marilyn Griffin: 864-9124 or Helen Kitzmiller: 866-5395

The mailing address is:
P.O. Box 144
Reynoldsburg, OH  43068

  Reynoldsburg Today

     Reynoldsburg is a clean, attractive small city (32,000 population, 11.05 square miles) situated in Truro Township in central Ohio. It is located on the eastern boundary of Franklin County, at the eastern edge of Truro Township. It is part of the seven-county Columbus Metropolitan Area (population 1.37 million). The City of Reynoldsburg incorporates parts of three counties: Franklin in the center and west, Licking to the east, and Fairfield to the south. Blacklick Creek flows south through the city, joined by French Run just behind the police station. The city is a community of dwellings, retail trade, and commercial services; we are proud that our crime rate is low, our streets are well kept, and we have no slums or segregated neighborhoods.

     Twelve miles east of Columbus, the state capital, Reynoldsburg is served by numerous state routes, interstate routes, and the Columbus Outerbelt. Rail service is two miles north or two miles south. Port Columbus International Airport is 20 minutes away. Reynoldsburg lies at the geographical center of Ohio, within 500 miles of 52 percent of the U.S. population and economy. It is ideally situated with respect to state and national markets and to vacation and recreational facilities throughout the state.

     Water and utility services are provided through Columbus, and sewer service by Reynoldsburg. Rubbish removal and recycling by a private company have proved satisfactory to more than 99 percent of local users. Reynoldsburg has its own, nationally high-ranking police department. The Truro Township Fire Department provides prompt and effective fire and emergency services.

     Reynoldsburg's stable economy, supported by a dynamic, vibrant people with a concern for their community and a good quality of life, makes the city an excellent place to live.