Brief Overview of Powell's History! Powell, Ohio, is located just north of Columbus. Within a 20 mile drive, travelers will find a small, beautiful, and unique city that is unlike any other. The notion of peace that lives within Powell cannot be found anywhere else. Everyone is kind, everyone is welcoming, and everyone loves their city. Powell is well taken care of and has remained this way over the years. Although a continuously developing community, Powell has remained constant with the same level of care for its landscape. Many parks and communal outdoor spaces are located within the community, and the one that stands out the most is Liberty Park. The park has anything a person could want from an outdoor space. From the multiple playgrounds to rentable shelter spaces, anyone can find a reason to spend time in Liberty Park. This is one of the many reasons Powell is a wonderful place! Powell is located in the 35th wealthiest county in the United States, Delaware County. Powell originated on May 1, 1801. Settlers arrived here after many quarrels between the Native Americans and their right to land. Thomas R. Hall is the man who started it all. He came from Middlebury, Connecticut. Many may not know that Powell started off with a different name: Middlebury. This name can be found around the city naming many houses or streets. Powell got its name from the judge who approved Powell to become an official village. Establishing a post office in the city put Powell on the map. Of course, it is by Columbus, so the land was bound to develop at some point, but the city would not be the same without every single individual who has helped build Powell up. The city began to grow, welcoming all professions to rehome here. From blacksmiths to farmers, Powell began to boom. A huge part of this city’s growth is due to the railroad being built. The Columbus and Toledo Railroad was established within the city to transport coal from the Appalachian region to all over the country. Powell is located between two major rivers: the Scioto River and the Olentangy River, which also drew more settlers to name Powell as their home. Powell is mainly a residential community, and it has always been that way. It is a retreat from the big city life, right outside of Columbus, but still close enough for individuals to travel there for work. Therefore, Powell is a bedroom community; a place which is mainly residential with little industrial work within the city. Some of the oldest neighborhoods located within Powell are “The Chase” and “The Retreat”. Although these developments only date back to 1974, they have played a significant role in the growth in Downtown Powell. The “Four Corners” are in the heart of Downtown Powell. This is the main intersection within Powell, offering transportation to Polaris, Worthington, Delaware, and Dublin from all four directions. The Martin-Perry House is a hidden historical landmark within Powell. Without looking too hard, this house looks like a normal part of the Downtown area. Efforts to save this house began in the late 1980s because developments wanted to tear it down for residential land. This is when the historical society in Powell began. The house is located near Grace Drive, and is a Victorian style establishment which only housed two families. The Martin Family and the Perry Family dwelled here during the 1800-1900s. Mary and Albert Martin were married within this house. The couple raised a family within the house and also practiced farming on the land. Martin had a successful career as a telegraph operator while Mary sewed and sold butter she made. The Martin family was the first to live in this house. Next, the Perry family settled here in 1928, having six children. The father of the family went to Ohio Northern University and became an engineer building the O’Shaughnessy Dam. Mrs. Perry gave piano lessons and made taffy candy. She was a well known figure around the community. The Perry family also practiced farming within the land. Many original artifacts of the families are still in the house today! The descendants of the families have given the Historical society many original belongings from the two families. This includes things such as furniture, dishes, and other decorations! The house is currently occupied by the Powell Historical Society and remains open for tours upon request. The Society is dedicated to educating people about local history, and what individuals can do to keep their history alive. Powell continues to develop daily. Some of the newer developments are the Carriage Road neighborhood being built along with the plans for Kroger to develop behind the Marathon on North Sawmill. Word Count: 783