Category: Commerce & Industry
Explore the full story of St. Marys, Ohio’s big-box retail—from Grant City’s 1974 opening and Kmart’s long run to Hobby Lobby’s 2024 debut. A vivid history of change at 1535 Celina Rd and Indiana Ave.
For a quarter of a century, one department store on the east side of Celina, Ohio, was more than just a place to shop—it was a community landmark. First as Jamesway and later as Harts Family Center, the building on Route 197 served as a social and commercial anchor from its grand opening in 1969 to its final closure in…
For many Celina residents, the corner of Grand Lake Road and Pro Drive long held a familiar landmark: the Orchard Tree Family Restaurant. For over three decades, it was a place for Sunday brunch, celebratory meals, and casual gatherings, its sign a welcoming beacon. Though the building at 501 Grand Lake Road now stands no […]
In the agricultural heartland of Mercer County, Ohio, the year 1921 was marked by a contentious public health and consumer protection battle. The central figures were a traveling purveyor named Dr. D.W. Nolan, his associate E.A. Brenneman, and their aggressively marketed hog remedy, “Noxine.” This episode, meticulously documented in regional newspapers and agricultural journals, reveals […]
Spend enough time around Grand Lake, and sooner or later the conversation drifts—not just to boating or ballgames, but to food. Not the kind served today in polished chains or drive-thrus, but the kind that used to come steaming out of small kitchens tucked behind counters, served with a smile, on chipped plates in places […]
Founded by educator and inventor Joseph Oppenheim in Maria Stein, Ohio, and moved its operations to Coldwater, Ohio, in 1908, New Idea revolutionized agriculture by developing a manure spreader that efficiently and widely distributed manure, significantly reducing manual labor and improving farm productivity. Early advertisements for New Idea highlighted the spreader’s unique paddle mechanism, inspired […]
Discover how J.C. Penney in Celina, Ohio launched a bold retail concept—bringing groceries, fashion, auto care, and innovation under one roof in 1970.
