one of the first African American country clubs in the United States
The Club was run on dues and memberships. Promotional advertisements were placed in local African American newspapers. These ads provide insight into the facilities, activities, and amenities of the Club.
The Clubhouse was a large wooden structure near the bank of the Big Walnut Creek, approximately where a small gazebo sits today. Some folks remember cottages and cabins further south, which served as summer residences on the grounds. ​
Inside the Clubhouse was a restaurant and bar. Local residents fondly remember Ernest Tate, who managed the Club in the 1950s.
Some community members remembered a fence around the Club with an entrance gate at the end of Oklahoma Avenue. They remember parades of fancy cars streaming in and out of Gahanna during the Club’s operation. To not create disruption or disturb the neighbors, club owners put a sign up that said “Quiet, No Honking.”
The clubs downtown were “white only”, so folks came from Columbus to Gahanna for after hour celebrations. There may have been a place that sold wine and spirits called The Vineyard if you traveled on Johnstown Road to Gahanna, crossed the old iron bridge, and turned right off Granville Street.
ATLETIC SPORTS EXPERIENCE
The Big Walnut Country Club provided space and opportunity for athletic sports and physical recreation.
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A variety of sports including baseball, croquet, horseshoes, softball, badminton, and volleyball were shown being played in advertisements, pictures of festivals, and articles over the years.
source: Ohio Sentinel p19
Four energetic guests try out Big Walnut Country Club's fine volleyball court. Club groups can form teams and compete against each other in various games offered at the club. source: Ohio Sentinel p19
"We have a driving range, horseshoe pits and croquet courts. Play areas are available for many other games." source: Ohio Sentinel p15
source: Ohio Sentinel p19
click on the photo to enlarge it and read the text in the image source: Ohio Sentinel p12
photo shared by Mark Rucker.
source: Ohio St News p5
click on the photo to enlarge it and read the text in the image source: Ohio Sentinel p12
Golf was an important part of the Club experience. At different times, there was a driving range and a 5-hole golf course.​
CLUB EVENTS
Specials Occasions were celebrated at the Club. After a gala, high school forma, a wedding, or honeymoon, it was a place to continue the celebration.
Prominent author, Wil Haygood, wrote a book called The Haygoods of Columbus: A Family Memoir about his family's history growing up in the Mt. Vernon Avenue area of downtown Columbus. On page 102, he recalls the marriage of his parents in 1952: "That evening -- the weather was beautiful, my parents remember -- Jack took his new bride out to Gahanna, a small town northeast of Columbus. You had to take a winding two lane road to get there, past farmland and strangers and thick trees. There was a little place in Gahanna for blacks called the Big Walnut Country Club. They had a place out there where you could sit under trees and they'd serve you, - recalls my father."
source: Ohio St News p1
source: Ohio St News p2A
source: Ohio Sentinel p9
source: Ohio St News p1
Music & songs drifted for blocks on lively summer nights from the Club throughout Gahanna. Bands, dances, festivals, and the jukebox provided entertainment at the Club.
source: Ohio State News p5A
source: Ohio Sentinel p7
source: Nathaniel Robinson, former photographer with Ohio Sentinel - Thank you!
source: Ohio State News p5A
The Bathing Beauty Pageant contest and dance was one of the most prominent events in the Club. For many years The Ohio State News sponsored the Bathing Beauty Pageant at different locations including the Lincoln Ballroom and the Valley Dale ballroom. In 1952, 1953, and 1954, the beauty pageant grew into a day-long summer festival held at the Big Walnut Country Club.
It's believed that after the Club ceased operation, the African-American
community events moved to new locations to be hosted in Gahanna.
Frogs Farm
take E. Johnstown Road (US-62) and turn onto Clotts Road
source: Ohio State News p24
source: Ohio Sentinel p20
source: Ohio Sentinel p9
source: Ohio State News p24
HICKORY HAVEN
heading east on Havens Corners Road, turn onto Dixon Road and follow for about a mile
source: Ohio Sentinel p16
source: Ohio Sentinel p16
source: Ohio Sentinel p16
FOP LODGE
located at 409 E. Johnstown Road (US-62)
source: Ohio Sentinel p20
source: Ohio Sentinel p16
Ohio Sentinel p6
source: Ohio Sentinel p20
SHARING MEMORIES
If you have any memories about the Big Walnut County Club to share, or know anyone who does, please contact us and let us know.
Today, you a can visit the site, which is now Friendship Park, located at 150 Oklahoma Ave. Gahanna, OH 43230. Owned and operated by the City of Gahanna.
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The Gahanna Historical Society is always seeking new members -- with your help, we can grow and achieve more than we ever have before. Click here to learn more!
to the following organizations for helping complete this project
THANK YOU
a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities
AAIG, Franklin County Genealogy & Historical Society
African American & African Studies Community Extension Center
of the City of Gahanna
of the Columbus Metropolitan Library