By Marylee Bendig

THEN:

This story was originally printed in the Southeast Messenger on Sept. 9, 1996

On Feb. 8, 1901–25 years after Alexander Graham Bell’s idea of transmitting speech electronically became a reality when the first complete sentence was transmitted March 10, 1876—the first telephone company was established in Canal Winchester.

In the fall that same year, the Franklin Telephone Co. extended service to Reynoldsburg, Brice, Groveport and Lithopolis. Residential service was $12 and business service was $24 per year.

Since the turn of the century, Canal Winchester’s business district has seen many changes. Historic brick buildings erected then still stand today as a reminder of the workmanship of the era.

According to the book, Canal Winchester, Ohio: The Second 90 Years by Lillian Carroll and Frances Steube, as the area continued to grow, so did the infrastructure.

Although potholes were not a major concern as they are today, the street maintenance was still on top of the village agenda.

As early as the 1900s, unpaved streets were sprinkled with water to keep down the dust. In 1910, the first sprinkling wagon was purchased for $325, with a daily sprinkling schedule. Street Sprinklers were paid $18 per week with $2 extra if they were needed on Sundays. Oil was another method used later before paving of the streets in the early ‘20s began.

Because heating and cooling was a consideration for merchants, they installed awnings on their shop fronts. The awnings served as a way for them to advertise their businesses and protection from the elements.

Several of the earliest businesses established in the community are visible in the photo. Weber’s Shoes and Notions was located at the corner of East Waterloo and High streets. Weber operated his dry goods and clothing store for 40 years at that location before closing in 1939.

Miller’s Groceries, known in later years as Conrad’s Market, served the community for 70 years as one of the oldest family businesses in Canal Winchester.

Lechliter’s Clothing Store was operated by H.E. Lechliter from 1905 to 1917. John Warner, a dentist, operated his office over Lechliter’s Clothing Store in the Miller building before moving his practice to his residence.

This postcard photo, courtesy of the Canal Winchester Area Historical Society, was postmarked Aug. 14, 1907 and shows High Street before it was paved. Note the hitching posts and telepohone poles.

NOW:

Today these buildings in the postcard house Hiii, Coffee on High, and Cornersmiths. Across South High Street is Harvest Moon and the Garden Herb shop, with the upstairs housing a number of local businesses over the years.

The streets are now paved, including the recent revamp of the intersection with the CW lettering added in late 2024.