COLUMBUS, Ohio –
The Defense Supply Center Columbus Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity African American Employment Program commemorates Black History Month with a two-part series recognizing Hanford Village, a hidden gem in the local community of Columbus, Ohio. This year’s national theme is “The Black Family: Representation, Identity, Diversity.” The second part of this series focuses on the identity and diversity within the black families in Hanford Village.
Incorporated in 1909, Hanford Village offered middle class African Americans families and veterans the opportunity to own newly constructed Cape Cod style homes within the boundaries of Livingston Avenue and Main Street, Lilly Avenue and Alum Creek. Hanford Village originally consisted of 146 new one and a half story homes forming a close-knit community. Construction of Interstate 70 split Hanford Village into two sections.
While Hanford Village consisted of predominantly black working-class families, diversity existed not only in race but primarily in the diverse occupations of its citizens.
“While growing up in Hanford Village there were always some form of interaction with our neighbors and friends amongst the three churches, two stores, or Sunday afternoons at the park,” recalled former resident Barbara Wright. “I have to mention that we had several caucasian families living in the Village and it affected them as well. Did we care if they were white, NO! The Village was the home of doctors, dentist, teachers, school principals, police officers, musicians, athletes and more.”
The occupational diversity of the residents within Hanford Village contributed to its unique identity and provided the opportunity for the black family to create its own identity as successful, self-sufficient entrepreneurs.
“The Village had everything a community could have to function,” Wright shared. “We had a fire department with our own fire truck that was mostly operated by Mr. Bowman. There was a sheriff’s department, a mayor, and a town hall for different functions in the community and of course the park. The park was where baseball games were played each summer. Different African American teams from Columbus would come to play at the park. One store within the Village was owned by an African American family, the Hollimans. It was our local store, beauty shop and barber shop. The other store was owned by a Jewish man by the name of Sam. All of this was destroyed by the Interstate 70 exchange.”
Hanford Village nurtured a wide range of citizens who proved instrumental in their communities after the construction of Interstate 70. Among these former residents are:
- Ed and Leroy Willis – born in Hanford, principals at East High School and Champion Middle School
- Lorinzer “Low” Clark – Central State University football and nationally recognized basketball referee
- Herbert Holliman – Community activist and children’s advocate
- Roman Johnson – Famous artist specializing in portrait and landscape painting.
- Donald Wright – Central Ohio District player of the year who graduated from Toledo University and played professionally in the Canadian Football League and later served as an administrator in the Detroit Public Schools System
Hanford Village is being recognized as a hidden gem in the Columbus community not only because of its representation of the Black Family, but because of its ability to retain a diverse identity while overcoming obstacles placed in its path. Hanford Village and its residents exemplify resiliency and are living legends for those who follow in their footsteps.
“When a community had professional and entrepreneur individuals within the community that looks like the community at large, it gives hope to you when you’re young,” Wright concluded.
The EEO African American Employment Program Committee would like to thank the former residents of Hanford Village for sharing their experiences with the federal workforce.