Original Founders
GROVE CITY WAS FOUNDED IN 1798. TWO HUNDRED YEARS LATER, WHEN GROVE CITY WAS ON THE HEELS OF ITS 1998 BICENTENNIAL AND TOWNSPEOPLE HAD A HEIGHTENED INTEREST IN GROVE CITY’S HISTORY, SEVERAL PEOPLE BEGAN MEETING TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY INTEREST IN STARTING A HISTORICAL SOCIETY. THOSE EARLY PEOPLE WERE: JOHN AND MARGE HUMMEL, MAYOR MARVIN BAKER AND MARY BAKER, TOM ARMOUR, MIKE ADAMS & HIS PARENTS, GLENN & BONNIE ADAMS, MARY “SKIP” SAMPLE, MIFF & MADELEINE MCBRIDE, AND JOAN FOSTER. THIS LED TO A PUBLIC MEETING ATTENDED BY 35 VERY INTERESTED CITIZENS. FROM THAT GROUP CAME VOLUNTEERS TO BE ON THE FIRST BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
THE FOLLOWING LIST HIGHLIGHTS THOSE WHO COMMITTED EARLY ON TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT AT THE “FOUNDERS” LEVEL SO THAT THE GROVE CITY AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY & MUSEUM COULD BECOME A REALITY.
ADAMS, GLENN (D) & BONNIE (D) GROVE CITY COLLEGE
ADAMS, MICHAEL GROVE CITY REALTY
ARMOUR, DR. THOMAS & LOIS GROVE CITY ROTARY
BESTWICK, CHARLES (D) HAY, RONALD (D) & NANNIE JEAN (D)
BOWDEN, EDWARD (D) & RUTH (D) KRING, DR. HILDA ADAM (D)
CASHDOLLAR, DAVID & KATHLEEN MOOK, CHARLOTTE ANDERSON
COVERT, RUSSELL (D) & ELEANOR NATIONAL CITY BANK
DAVEVIC BENEFIT CONSULTANTS WENDELL AUGUST FORGE
FOSTER, JOAN (D) WHITE, DR. BETTY JO
GALLAGHER, JOY
IN THE YEAR’S SINCE WELL OVER 800 PEOPLE HAVE CONTINUED THE SOCIETY’S EXISTENCE BY THE GENEROSITY OF THEIR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS.