A burgeoning movement in the 1890s to ban the manufacture, sale and transportation of alcohol in the U.S. led to the formation of the Anti-Saloon League, one of the first lobbying entities in this country to wield its influence on government policy-makers. In 1909, the League moved its national headquarters from Washington, D.C,. to a small midwestern town seen as more friendly to its mission. Shortly thereafter, the group  launched the American Issue Publishing Company to print and distribute its materials nationwide. Easily printing over 40 tons of mail a month, the League required such extensive postal services that a new “first class” post office was created – the first of its kind in a small U.S. town.

The location of these historic happenings: Westerville!

Fortunately, Westerville has preserved much of its history as the “Dry Capital of the World” and a number of options exist for learning more about its role in the temperance movement. The Anti-Saloon League Museum holds a trove of documents, photographs and artifacts in its archives. Located within the Westerville History Museum (connected to the Westerville Public Library), the collection is accessible to the public Mon.-Sat., from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. or by appointment for more in-depth research.

In addition, the National Register of Historic Places has named Westerville’s Temperance Row as one of its historically significant sites. Included in Temperance Row are a number of homes occupied by the Anti-Saloon League leaders. Four self-guided walking tours are provided via a downloadable app from Westerville History Tours. Choose from areas that encompass Main Street, State Street, College Avenue and Uptown for an in-depth, in-person introduction to Westerville’s storied past.

Fun fact: Westerville remained dry for over 70 years. Not until 2004 did Westerville residents approve a referendum to allow alcohol sales for the first time since prohibition! Westerville residents also played a prominent role in the underground railroad, shepherding persons fleeing slavery on their northward route to freedom. Notable among those residents was William Hanby, an outspoken abolitionist and co-founder of Otterbein University. His son, Benjamin Hanby, carried on his father’s work in the abolitionist movement while making a name for himself as a composer of popular songs of the era such as Darling Nelly Gray and the Christmas standard Up on the Housetop. Their home, the Hanby House, is now a museum listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Hanby House is open to the public on Saturdays from 1-4 p.m., June through September; tours can be arranged by appointment.

And Hanby House is just one of 40 stops on the Ohio Historical Underground Railroad Trail, a self-guided tour that covers the entire state. You can download a copy of the trail map here. Also on the National Register of Historic Places is the Everal Barn and Homestead, prominently situated in Heritage Park. Signs placed outside the barn and homestead offer visitors some history about the buildings and their former inhabitants.

Another way to learn about Westerville’s fascinating history is to wander through the Uptown district and locate the 20 historical markers scattered throughout. They offer a wealth of historical facts and information about the people, places and events that made Westerville such
an important entity in the founding and growth of our country.

A more recent entry in the city’s history is the Westerville Veterans Memorial located in front of the Westerville Sports Complex, 325 N. Cleveland Avenue. Completed in 2022, the memorial provides a solemn salute to those who served in our U.S. Armed Forces.

Post written by: Cynthia Earhart