History + Trivia = FUN, especially when you are learning new facts about our community. Below are the Porch Party Trivia questions, answers, and additional resources. If you are interested in knowing more about the history of current features of our community, watch this video first presented in fall of 2023:
Q: What is the exact phrase found under “Upper Arlington” on the rocks that welcome us into our community? What specifically occurred that year?
A: “Founded 1918.” On March 20, 1918, the Village of Upper Arlington was incorporated. The area had been in development since 1914, and by 1918 the community had 300 residents. Upper Arlington achieved its designation as a “city” in 1941 after the population increased to 5,000.
For more information:
- View this sign about our first governing structure and police/fire divisions from UA’s History Walk at Northam Park.
- Read the news from July 1918 right after UA’s first local election.
Q: If we are “Upper” Arlington, where is the “Arlington” that we were physically above? Note: it’s not called that anymore. The answer is rock-solid, existing at UA’s southern precipice.
A: Marble Cliff (or more precisely, a large area of today’s Village of Marble Cliff)
For more information:
- Learn the detailed story here.
Q: When driving past Wyandot Park on Riverside Drive, one can see a nine-foot-tall rock structure. Its shape is intentionally similar to teepees used by Native Americans. What is its significance?
A: This structure, constructed of boulders from the banks of the Scioto River, marks the grave of Bill Moose who died in 1937. He is considered to be the last surviving Wyandot in Ohio, as the federal government expelled the tribe’s members from Ohio in 1843 and only a few managed to remain. Bill Moose was employed as a rider in a circus Wild West show and retired to live in this area. He is buried in Wyandot Park at Riverside Drive and Lane Road.
For more information:
- Visit Wyandot Park.
- Text from the UA History Trail sign, videos and other articles about Bill Moose and the story of the Wyandots are found online here.
Q: In 1872, in southern Perry Township — which is what the land was called before we were Upper Arlington — one man owned 227 acres. Today, much of this land contains important public spaces where we watch fireworks, learn, socialize, and shop together. Who was this individual, and what public buildings are on this land today?
A: The man was Pleasant Litchford. The spaces include: Tremont Center, Tremont Library, Tremont Elementary, the UA Senior Center, Northam Park, St. Agatha, and UA High School.
Can you find “P. Litchford” twice on the map near what today is Tremont and Ridgeview Roads? Pleasant Litchford, a blacksmith by trade, migrated from Virginia to this area of Ohio around 1830 after purchasing his freedom from enslavement. He bought 227 acres of land in southern Perry Township, now Upper Arlington, between 1833 - 1849 which he owned until his death in 1879.
For more information:
- The Pleasant Litchford Memorial Garden is coming soon. More details will be added to this link in the future.
- More about Pleasant Litchford’s land holdings is found here.
- Read about the Litchford Family Cemetery here.
Q: What do the bear, stripes and stars on our City’s flag each represent?
A: This flag was adopted in 2018 as part of the City’s Centennial celebration.
The Golden Bear - symbol of Upper Arlington’s proud heritage
The Two Stars - our community’s past and future, while paying homage to UA 4th of July
The Two Stripes - the two rivers that run to the east and west of our community
Q: Considered to be the oldest still-standing structure in Upper Arlington, this was built in 1860 to store a sometimes-solid which was dragged from the wintry river to keep things cold during the summer months. The UAHS hockey team’s home rink has the same-sounding name. What is this building?
A: Miller Ice House, now on the property owned by First Community Village.
In the picture here, the lamppost in the foreground is an original from the early UA community.
For more information:
- History of the Ice House, old photos, reflections on its importance — read more here.
Q: The original colors of Upper Arlington Schools’ teams were _____________ and black, not gold & black, and are said to be a tribute to Princeton University.
A: Orange.
The original school colors—orange & black—were replaced with today’s “Gold & Black” in 1941, to align with the Golden Bear mascot which was adopted in 1928.
The photo shows the 1926 yearbook cover displaying the orange and black colors.
For more information:
- See the Our Mascot panel on the UA History Walk at Northam Park.
Q: Test your directional skills. What is…
the westernmost UA Schools’ elementary school?
the northernmost UA Public Library branch?
the easternmost compost drop-off site?
the southernmost City pool?
A: Windermere; Lane Road Library (opened 1975); Municipal Services Center at 3600 Tremont Road (since 2019); Devon Road Pool.
The “old” exterior of Windermere before the 2021 rebuild. Windermere Elementary was established in 1958.
Image of Devon Road pool circa the late 1920s. Devon Road Pool opened for the community on April 13, 1928.