These memories of the Ohio Union, from Mrs. James R. Finney of Worthington, recall familiar Ohio names and places from the 1950s.
“I did not attend Ohio State. I was employed by the Ohio Department of Highways, as the Ohio Department of Transportation was referred to then.
“For quite a few years, the Department of Highways and OSU’s Department of Landscape Architecture sponsored an annual ‘Short Course on Roadside Development.’
It was attended by representatives from various other states plus Canada and, one year, Ankara, Turkey. “The Short Course always included a banquet with a speaker and various dignitaries present. The Deshler-Wallick Hotel and the Neil House were two of the banquet sites.
“In April 1952, the 11th Short Course banquet was held in the Franklin Room of the Ohio Union. Mrs. Frank Lausche was present representing her husband, then Ohio’s governor.
“On Oct. 6, 1953, the banquet was again held in the Franklin Room. The banquet speaker was author and conservationist Louis Bromfield. Malabar Farm, his home near Lucas, Ohio, is now a state park. I was present at both banquets and have photos of the events.
“Through 1961, the banquets continued to be held at the Union. I attended most of them and have photos.”
Share your memory
Please follow these guidelines to share your memory of the old Ohio Union. It just might appear in the Trib.
1. Write your memory in less than 400 words; all submissions may be edited.
2. Include your name, contact information, and the year you graduated from OSU, if applicable.
3. E-mail your memory to
Jaqueline.Kimball@erickson.com