>>> IF YOU WALK AROUND ANY CEMETERY, YOU WILL SEE NAMES AND DATES THAT MAY NOT MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU, BUT THE PEOPLE BURIED THERE, PROBABLY HAVE DEEP CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.

IN THE FIRST STORY, A GROUP OF FOUR STUDENTS DID RESEARCH ON A FEW AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE BURIED IN THE GREEN LAWN CEMETERY.

THE STUDENTS LEARNED VALUABLE LESSONS ABOUT HISTORIC RESEARCH, GENEALOGY, AND STORYTELLING.

LET'S GO TO GREEN LAWN CEMETERY FOR MORE ON THAT STORY.

>>> IF YOU WALK AROUND ANY CEMETERY, YOU WILL SEE NAMES AND DATES MAY NOT MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU, BUT THE PEOPLE BURIED THERE PROBABLY HAVE DEEP CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.

IN THIS FIRST STORY, GROUP OF FOUR STUDENTS DID RESEARCH ON A FEW AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE BURIED IN THE GREEN LAWN CEMETERY.

THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE, THEY LEARNED VALUABLE LESSONS ABOUT HISTORIC RESEARCH, GENEALOGY, AND STORYTELLING.

LET'S GO TO GREEN LAWN CEMETERY FOR MORE ON THAT STORY.

[ music ] [ music ] >>> REVEREND EZEKIEL FIELD IS ONE OF 11 CHILDREN.

REVEREND EZEKIEL FIELD MOVED TO SOUTHERN COLUMBUS AROUND 1828.

HE MUST HAVE BEEN IN HIS LATE 20s OR EARLY 30s.

HE WAS A CIRCUIT WRITER.

HE WOULD PERFORM MINISTRY DUTIES IN RURAL CHURCHES.

HE DID MARRIAGES AND BAPTISMS.

>> I TEACH AMERICAN HISTORY.

THE TEACHER TO 10TH-GRADERS AT FORT HAYES.

PART OF THAT HISTORY IS AFTER AMERICAN HISTORY.

REQUIRED FREED AFTER THE AMERICANS TO BE REGISTERED.

THEY HAD TO HAVE TWO CITIZENS VOUCH FOR THEIR CHARACTER.

$500 IN 1800S IS NOT EASY TO COME BY.

IT IS AROUND $10,000-$11,000 IN TODAY'S MONEY.

>> WE DID A LOT OF COMMUNITY WORK, BRINGING STUDENTS INTO THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE BRINGING THE COLUMBUS HISTORY ALIVE, AND IN DOING SO BRINGING AMERICAN HISTORY TO LIFE.

WE ARE SHEDDING NEW LIGHT ON HOW THEY PERCEIVE THEIR OWN COMMUNITY TO REALIZE IT HAS A DEEPER, REACH HER HISTORY AND PAST.

>> AFRICAN AMERICAN MEMORIES --MEMBERS AND SEPARATE AND CREATE ANOTHER BAPTIST CHURCH.

THAT IS WHERE REVEREND EZEKIEL FIELD BECAME THE PRIMARY REVEREND.

THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH SPLIT INTO TWO MEMBERSHIPS.

ONE OF THE MEMBERSHIPS WAS >> [ indiscernible ] IN 2016, OUR GROUP HAS BEEN DOING RESEARCH ON AFRICAN AMERICANS, THE PIONEERS.

THIS IS WILBUR KING, BORN IN 1866, DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

HIS FATHER WAS A SHARPSHOOTER FOR THE UNION ARMY, AND DIED IN THE WAR.

>> MS FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN CITY RESEARCH, IS THAT WE WERE NOT INCLUDED ON THE CENSUS.

WE WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE HISTORY BOOKS.

THAT IS A MYTH.

AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE INCLUDED ON THE CENSUS.

WE MAY HAVE BEEN UNDERREPRESENTED.

>> KING BECAME A LAWYER IN 1896.

HIS SKILLS WERE SO WIDELY RECOGNIZED THAT THE OHIO SUPREME COURT WAIVED THE CUSTOMARY PROBATION PERIOD REQUIRED OF NEW LAWYERS.

HE COULD IMMEDIATELY START PRACTICING LAW.

>> WE DECIDED TO DO A WALKING TOUR USING HIGH SCHOOL KIDS, AND WHAT THEY LIKE TO HELP US BECOME PUBLIC HISTORIANS?

THEIR RESPONSE HAS BEEN VERY POSITIVE AND OVERWHELMING.

>> HE WAS A BUFFALO SOLDIER.

THAT IS THE NAME DESCRIBED AS [ indiscernible ].

>> THE STORY STARTED COMING OUT.

THEY WERE RICHER THAN I EVER COULD HAVE IMAGINED.

>> THE FORT HAYES HISTORICAL SOCIETY IS A GROUP OF STUDENTS THAT REALLY DO CARE ABOUT OUR HISTORY.

WE VALUE ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN IT.

WE WANT TO LEARN MORE.

>> THERE IS AN IMPORTANT BENCH.

THIS WAS SAVED FROM THE DEMOLITION OF THE VILLAGE.

THE BRICKS WERE LAID BY STUDENTS.

THEY FEATURE THE BYWAYS.

POINDEXTER VILLAGE WAS THE FIRST PUBLIC HOUSING.

IT WAS DEDICATED BY FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT.

ONE THING THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO MENTION, THE HIGHSCHOOLER'S MOTIVATION TO DO THIS, IT WAS NOT ANYONE CELEBRATING TO COME OUT HERE FOR A HOT AND SWEATY DAY.

I CHOSE TO DO THIS BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING.

I WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PAST.

I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN ABOUT U.S. HISTORY MORE.

>> WASHINGTON TOWNSHEND WAS A SLAVE OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, ANDREW JACKSON.

HE ESCAPED AROUND THE AGE OF 17.

HE HEARD ABOUT A NEW UNIVERSITY THAT WAS BEING GUARDED, WHICH IS THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY.

HE APPLIED AS A ROLE OF CUSTODIAN.

HE GOT HIRED HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST 39 PEOPLE TO WORK AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY.

HE WAS REALLY GOOD, CLOSE FRIENDS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY.

THEY WOULD OFTEN BE SEEN HAVING REALLY DEEP AND MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS.

>> THE QUESTION THAT WE CAN ANSWER FOR THIS PROJECT IS THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE DOCUMENTED AND YOU CAN RESEARCH THEM.

AND YOU CAN GET THE BEAUTY OF THEIR LIVES IN RECORDS THAT THEY PROVIDE.

YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT EMPLOYMENT.

YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT CHURCH HISTORY.

YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT THEM THROUGH THEIR SOCIAL NETWORK.

IN ALL OF THE STORIES THAT WERE SELECTED TODAY, THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN ACCOUNTED IN THAT WAY.

>> AT THE TIME THAT WASHINGTON TOWNSHEND PASSED WAY, THE PRESIDENT HAD ALREADY PASSED AWAY.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS THE ONLY GRAVE THAT IS RISEN HERE.

HIS SON FELT LIKE IT WAS NEEDED, BECAUSE HE WAS SO IMPORTANT THIS GRAVE.

HE HAD PAID FOR IT OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET.

>> THE EARLIEST BURIAL OF AN AFRICAN AMERICAN RESIDENT IN GREEN LAWN CEMETERY WAS OF ARTHUR BOKE.

HE WAS BORN JANUARY 19, 1803.

HE HAD BEEN LEFT BY HIS MOTHER AS A NEWBORN.

HIS MOTHER WAS A FUGITIVE SLAVE, FLEEING CAPTURE THROUGH THE NETWORK OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

SARAH RAISED THE BABY WITH HER OTHER SONS.

>> I WAS IMPRESSED.

IT TAKES STRENGTH TO GET UP AND SHARE.

YOU ARE IN THOSE FORMATIVE YEARS.

YOU ARE NOT SURE ABOUT THAT.

IT IS GREAT EXERCISE TO BE ABLE TO STUDY SOMETHING AND PRESENT IT.

TO PRESENT AT FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE.

OWN THOUGHTS AND THEIR OWN PROCESSES.

>> NOT AT ALL, WILLIAM, LUCAS IS DONE, HE THOUGHT OF ARTHUR AS A BROTHER.

HE LEFT HIM TO DEATH, AND WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR HIM.

>> OR SLICE IT.

THEY BROUGHT THE PEOPLE TO LIFE.

AS A GENEALOGIST, THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO HAPPEN.

WE WANT THE FAMILY NARRATIVE TO BE TOLD.

WE WANTED TO BE TOLD IN CONTEXT OF THE SETTING AND THE TIME PERIOD.

I REMEMBER THEM SAYING, WHEN SHE TALKED ABOUT ARTHUR BOKE, SHE MENTIONED THAT WILLIAM LOVED HIM AND SAW HIM AS A BROTHER.

I THINK THAT IS A KIND OF NARRATIVE THAT YOU WANT.

>> ARTHUR BOKE DIED BEFORE GREEN LAWN CEMETERY WAS ESTABLISHED.

HE WAS MOVED FROM PIONEER CEMETERY, ALONG WITH LUCAS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS.

>> I THINK FOR THEM TO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING.

THE IMPORTANT THING ABOUT DEALING WITH DIFFICULT HISTORY IS NOT THE CONCLUSION YOU WILL COME UP WITH.

IT IS THE QUESTIONS YOU ASK, BECAUSE THIS IS ESSENTIAL DEVELOP.

THAT IS WHAT CRITICAL THINKING IS ALL ABOUT.

THAT IS WHAT WE WANT CHILDREN TO DO.

>>> IF YOU EVER ATTENDED THE MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT HAPPENS EVERY MAY, YOU MIGHT WONDER WHY IT ALMOST ALWAYS RAINS.

SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE IT COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO A CURSE OF A CHIEF THAT FREQUENTED THE AREA OF THE EARLY 19th CENTURY.

COULD IT BE TRUE?

WE GO TO DUBLIN TO FIND OUT.

[ music ] >>> CHIEF LEATHERLIPS, IT IS A STRANGE NAME, BUT A REAL PERSON.

>> HE IS.

HE LIVED LONGER.

ACCORDING TO MY FAMILY, HE CAME DOWN HERE MANY TIME IN THE SPRING.

HE WAS ON THE HILLSIDE AND TELL STORIES.

>> WAS HE A LEADER?

>> HE WAS THE CHIEF SIGNED THE TREATY IN 1795 >> WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE EXECUTION?

>> SIX INDIANS CAME HERE TO PUT CHIEF LEATHERLIPS ON TRIAL.

THEY WANTED TO GET RID OF HIM.

HE WAS FORMING HIS COALITION.

WHEN HE WAS FORMING HIS COALITION, HIS BROTHER WOULD METAL.

HE DECIDED TO AND THE LIFE OF CHIEF LEATHERLIPS.

THEY WOULD LIKE TO GET THE WIDEOUTS TO JOIN THE FEDERATION.

AFTER THE EXECUTION, THE WIDEOUTS FOUGHT IN THE WAR OF 1812.

THESE WERE SOME OF THE ORIGINAL >> YOU HAD FIVE OF THE BROTHERS AT THE EXECUTION OF CHIEF LEATHERLIPS.

BETWEEN THE FIVE BROTHERS, AND IT WAS AND ELIAS WORTHINGTON, AND ANOTHER DOWNRIVER, THERE ARE AT LEAST SEVEN WITNESSES.

I THINK IF CHIEF LEATHERLIPS LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS WAS FALSE, I AM NOT A WITCH DOCTOR, AND I DON'T WANT TO DIE, I THINK IT WOULD'VE BEEN HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT THAT DAY.

I BELIEVE THOSE BOYS WOULD HAVE BROKE IT.

I THINK CHIEF LEATHERLIPS DID NOT WANT INTERFERENCE.

HE KNEW THAT THEY WOULD'VE BROUGHT INDIANS OVER HERE TRY TO WIPE OUT THE SETTLEMENT.

I WILL ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT CHIEF LEATHERLIPS WAS MORE OF A HERO THAN WHAT WE GIVE HIM CREDIT FOR, BECAUSE HE STOPPED THE BOYS FROM FIGHTING.

>> WE KNOW WHERE THE NAME CAME FROM?

>> I THINK IT CAME FROM THE IDEA THAT HE NEVER TOLD A LIE.

AS ELIAS LEWIS SAID, THE HARDEST THING I EVER DID WAS SEE THAT GREAT MEN PUT TO DEATH.

>> YOUR GRANDFATHER IS A CUSTODIAN OF THE GRAVE AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE FAMILY SINCE THEN?

>> YES, JOSEPH THOMPSON DIED IN 1862.

HE STARTED TO PROTECT THE GRAVE OF CHIEF LEATHERLIPS.

AFTER THE EXECUTION, THE INDIANS LAUGHED.

JOSEPH BACKFILLED THAT WITH ROCKS.

THOSE ROCKS COVERED THE GRAVE OF CHIEF LEATHERLIPS.

>> THAT BRINGS US TO THE CURSE, WHAT IS IT, AND HOW DID IT START?

>> AFTER CHIEF LEATHERLIPS WAS EXECUTED ON THE GRAVE TAKING CARE OF, THERE WAS A SON NAMED SAMUEL.

THEY FORMED THE WYANDOTTE CLUB.

HE LOVED HISTORY.

THEY VOTED TO PUT THE MONUMENT UP THERE NOW.

THIS IS WHEN IT WAS NOTHING MORE THAN A PILE OF ROCKS IN THE WOODS.

THEY DECIDED TO CLEAN THE AREA UP.

WHEN THEY DID, THEY ACCIDENTALLY UNCOVERED THE REMAINS OF CHIEF LEATHERLIPS.

AT THE LOWER THE REMAINS DOWN TO A PROPER DEPTH.

THAT WAS WHEN THE RUMORS STARTED ABOUT THE CURSE.

>> THAT IS A FASCINATING STORY.

THE MORE WE LEARN, THE MORE THERE IS TO FIND OUT.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR FAMILY'S STORY WITH US.

THAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE REAL- LIFE FIGURE NAMED CHIEF LEATHERLIPS.

ACCORDING TO LOCAL URBAN LEGEND, HIS CURSE IS THE REASON THERE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE A DARK CLOUD HANGING OVER THE MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT.

BY THAT, I MEAN RAIN.

TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH, IF ANY OF THIS IS TRUE, I MET WITH BEN GELBER.

YOU KNOW ABOUT THE WEATHER AND THE CHARACTER OF CHIEF LEATHERLIPS.

>> SO OFTEN QUESTIONS COME UP, IS THERE ANYTHING TO THIS WITH THE RAIN AND CHIEF LEATHERLIPS.

I WENT BACK AND INVESTIGATED THE CLIMATE RECORDS TO SEE IF WE COULD TIE IN THE NUMBER OF RAINY DAYS WITH TOURNAMENT DAYS.

MAY AND EARLY JUNE HAVE THE GREATEST NUMBER OF RAINY DAYS.

IT RAINS A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN 60% OF THE TIME.

>> AS YOU LOOK AT THE DATA, BEFORE AND AFTER THE 1970S, >> ONE THING WE HAVE LOOKED AT IS THE CHANGE OF THE AMOUNT OF MOISTURE IN THE AIR.

WE CLEARLY HAVE OUR RAINY DAYS AND DAYS WITH HEAVY RAIN COMPARED TO THE 1930S THROUGH THE 1960S.

WE HAVE GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WETTER.

THE CLIMATE HAS WARMED IN THE OCEANS HAVE WARMED, THERE IS MORE AVAILABLE MOISTURE IN THE AIR.

IT DOES PRODUCE SHOWERS AND STORMS, WHICH COINCIDES WITH THE INITIATION OF THE TOURNAMENT.

>> THERE WAS LESS HUMIDITY IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS?

>> FOR THE MOST PART, YES.

WE USE DEW POINT AS A MEASURE OF MOISTURE IN THE ATMOSPHERE.

ALSO THE DAYS WITH SOUTHERLY BREEZES OFF OF THE GULF OF MEXICO.

THAT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED OVER 25 YEARS.

WE ARE HAVING EVEN MORE RAINY DAYS DURING THE RAINIEST TIME OF THE YEAR.

>> IN YOUR OPINION, YES OR NO, IS THERE CURSE?

>> IS A METEOROLOGIST, I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE IS A CURSE.

IT IS PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY DOES NOT QUITE MATCH UP.

THE AREA THAT HE HUNTED IS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE RIVER.

SECONDLY, IT IS UNUSUAL TO HAVE THAT MANY RAINY DAYS, AND HEAVY RAINFALL DAYS, BUT THERE IS A CLIMATE SIGNAL IN THE TIME OF YEAR FALLS ALONG WITH NATURAL VARIABILITY.

>> BAD LUCK, THE CURSES ARE FOILED AGAIN.

[ laughter ] >>> THERE ARE A LOT OF OLD CEMETERIES IN COLUMBUS.

ONE OF THE OLDEST IS UNION CEMETERY ALONG MARY RODGERS RIVER ROAD.

THERE ARE MANY LEGENDS BURIED THERE, INCLUDING WOODY HAYES AND DAVE THOMAS.

BECAUSE THE CEMETERY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1847, DOESN'T MEAN THE PEOPLE WERE NOT VERY THERE BEFORE THAT.

HISTORIAN MARY RODGERS UNCOVERS THE STORIES WITH A TOUR OF THE CEMETERY ARCHIVES.

>>> UNION CEMETERIES OLDEST BURIAL IS 1806.

IT IS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL PIONEERS OF THE AREA.

THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF WHAT BECAME A GRAVEYARD IN THIS AREA.

NOT ONLY DO THEY USE IT FOR BURIALS, BUT OTHER FAMILY AND FRIENDS USE THE CEMETERY AS WELL.

IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE 1840S THAT UNION CEMETERY WAS FOUNDED.

BACK IN THE 1840S, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A GROUP OF THE GRAVEYARDS.

MOST OF THE TIME A GRAVEYARD IS ATTACHED TO A SHIRT.

CEMETERIES THAT WERE NOT, WOULD'VE COME TOGETHER AS A UNION OF CEMETERIES TO SHARE EXPENDITURES.

THE ASSOCIATION, BACK IN 1848, MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT UNION.

IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN THAT UNION BROKE UP, THE UNION CEMETERY KEPT THE NAME.

THAT IS THE NAME THAT IS CHOSEN WHEN THE OFFICIAL ASSOCIATION BEGINS IN 1870.

IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1879 THAT WE HAVE DOCUMENTATION.

THIS IS THE VERY FIRST MINUTE FROM THE OFFICIAL MINUTE BOOK OF THE ASSOCIATION.

IT STARTS BY SAYING THAT THERE IS A DESIRE TO ESTABLISH THE ASSOCIATION AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OFFICIAL MEETING AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH HERE IN CLINTON TOWNSHIP.

I PULLED HIM OUT FROM 1872 TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE CHURCH MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

THERE IS A CHURCH THAT IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE ESTABLISHED GRAVEYARD.

IN 1878 THEY AGREED TO ACTUALLY ELECT OFFICERS AND BEGIN THE ASSOCIATION.

WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS MAKING A BUSINESS OUT OF THIS CEMETERY OPERATION.

AS A RESULT, MOST OF THE RECORDS THAT WE HAVE HERE ARE GOING TO BE ACCOUNTING AND LAND MANAGEMENT RECORDS.

WE ARE KEEPING TRACK OF WHAT KIND OF REVENUE WE TAKE IN, WHERE WE ACTUALLY ENTER PEOPLE, SO WE KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH SPACE WE HAVEN'T USED, AND WHAT WE COULD TELL.

A LOT OF THE EARLY RECORDS ARE ACTUALLY WHAT WOULD BE CERTIFICATES OF OWNERSHIP.

NOT A LOT OF BURIAL RECORDS, BECAUSE FAMILIES BACK THEN WOULD HAVE TAKING CARE OF THEIR OWN BURIALS.

IT WOULD HAVE ALSO TAKING CARE OF THEIR OWN MARKERS.

IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A LOT OF RULES OR REGULATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

AND, THE YEARS PROGRESSED.

YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION, IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE CEMETERY NEEDS TO START PUTTING TOGETHER SOME RULES.

ONE RULE IS THEY ELIMINATE THE ABILITY FOR A FAMILY TO FENCE IN THEIR PARTICULAR PART OF THE CEMETERY.

ANOTHER ONE WOULD BE WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE ABLE TO DO AN INTERNMENT ON SUNDAY.

DOGS IN THE CEMETERY BECOME AN ISSUE.

HORSES IN THE CEMETERY BECOME AN ISSUE.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE GROWTH OF THE CEMETERY AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE VISITING THE CEMETERY.

AN EARLY ISSUE THAT COMES UP IS THE FACT THAT IT IS COLD IN OHIO.

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO BE BURIED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

THEY DECIDE THEY NEED A DEAD HOUSE, A STORAGE LOCATION WHERE THEY CAN KEEP PEOPLE UNTIL THE WEATHER WARMS ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO DO AN INTERNMENT.

THIS BOOK SHOWS US WHERE THE CEMETERY DESCRIBES WHEN IT IS TIME TO REMOVE THIS PARTICULAR ELEMENT OF THE CEMETERY.

WE HAVE THESE GREAT PHOTOGRAPHS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN THE SUMMER OF 1929.

THEY ARE MEMORIALIZING THE DEAD HOUSE.

THEY'RE GETTING READY TO DEMOLISH IT.

IN THE 1920S, THE CEMETERY WOULD HAVE HAD ABOUT 48 ACRES OF LAND.

MOST OF THIS LAND WOULD HAVE BEEN NEAR THE STREET.

AS THEY EXPAND THEY ARE PURCHASING FARMLAND FROM THE FARMERS IN THIS AREA.

THESE WOULD HAVE BEEN SECOND AND THIRD GENERATION PIONEER FAMILIES STILL OWN LAND IN THIS AREA.

THEY START TO PURCHASE LAND GOING NORTHWARD, CLOSER TO WHAT WE SEE NEAR THE HOSPITAL TODAY.

ULTIMATELY, WE PURCHASE ABOUT 75 ACRES OF LAND ALL ON THE EAST SIDE.

THEN WE JUMP OVER TO THE WEST SIDE IN THE LATE 1930S AND EARLY 1940S.

AT THAT POINT, WE PURCHASE ALMOST THE SAME AMOUNT OF LAND.

WE ARE PURCHASING LAND THAT MAY ALREADY HAVE BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES ON IT.

IN SOME CASES THERE WERE HOUSES AND IN SOME CASES THERE WERE BARNS.

WE COULD TAKE THE HOUSE AND USE IT FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

WE HAVE USED BARNS FOR TOOL SHEDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

ULTIMATELY, WE HAD TO CLEAR THE LAND OF THESE USES.

AS THE CEMETERY RECORDS MATURE, WE CAN ALSO SEE WHERE CURRENT EVENTS ARE BEING DOCUMENTED AS PART OF THE CEMETERY'S BUSINESS RECORDS.

HERE IN 1910, THEY ARE RELOCATING A CEMETERY FROM THE CLINTONVILLE AREA OVER TO UNION CEMETERY.

THIS IS BECAUSE THAT PROPERTY WOULD BE USED FOR HOUSES AND SCHOOLS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AREA.

IN 1918, WE SEE THE IMPACT OF THE INFLUENZA SITUATION THAT WAS HERE IN COLUMBUS.

PNEUMONIA, PNEUMONIA, A LOT OF TIMES WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WOULD COME AND VISIT.

THEY WILL WANT TO SEE IF WE HAVE DEATH CERTIFICATES FOR THEIR LOVED ONES.

THOSE ARE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE MAINTAINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

WHAT WE WOULD HAVE IS THE TRANSIT PERMIT.

THIS IS A DOCUMENT THAT A FUNERAL DIRECTOR WOULD OBTAIN TO ALLOW HIM TO ACTUALLY BRING US AN INDIVIDUAL FOR BURIAL.

>> WHEN A STARTED WORK HERE, I WAS NOT SURE HOW OFTEN WE WOULD INTERACT WITH THE OLDER RECORDS.

THE REALITY IS, I FIND REASONS TO BE INTERACTIVE WITH THE RECORDS ON A DAILY BASIS.

RIGHT NOW, IN THE CEMETERY, WE HAVE 80,000 PEOPLE HERE.

KNOWING EXACTLY WHERE EVERYBODY IS, BEING ABLE TO GET VISITORS TO THE RIGHT PLACE, THIS IS PART OF OUR DAY-TO-DAY EFFORT.

WE USE THESE RECORDS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.

>> THE CURIOUS CBUS PROJECT, YOU SUBMIT QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR REGION, PEOPLE, OR PROPERTY, WE ASSIGN A PRODUCER TO INVESTIGATE IT.

TODAY'S QUESTION COMES FROM ONE CURIOUS VIEWER WHO WAS NO MORE ABOUT ONE OF COLUMBUS IS MOSTLY USUAL CEMETERIES.

SHE ASKED, WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE INSANE CEMETERY?

ARE THERE REALLY ANY PARTS BURIED THERE?

>>> IN THE HILLTOP NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE ARE TWO SMALL CEMETERIES WITH PLAQUES THAT READ, OLD INSANE AND PENAL CEMETERY.

THE STORY GOES BACK TO OHIO'S FIRST TREATMENT CENTER FOR MENTAL ILLNESS.

THE FIRST STATE-SUPPORTED HOSPITAL EVER, THE OHIO LUNATIC ASYLUM.

IT WAS APPROVED BY THE STATE IN 1835 AND BUILT ON EAST BROAD STREET, ONE MILE FROM THE STATEHOUSE.

TRAGICALLY, THE BUILDING WAS DESTROYED IN 1868 BY A FIRE THAT KILLED SIX PATIENTS.

THE NEW HOSPITAL WAS SET ON 300 ACRES ALONG WEST BROAD STREET.

WHEN THE HOSPITAL OPENED IN 1877, IT WAS KNOWN AS THE COLUMBUS HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.

IT IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN THE LARGEST BUILDING IN THE UNITED STATES UNTIL THAT TITLE WAS TAKEN BY THE PENTAGON.

THE BUILDING WAS DESIGNED IN A STYLE ADVOCATED BY A RENOWNED PSYCHIATRIST.

THE SPRAWLING FLOOR PLAN.

PROMOTE A HEALING ENVIRONMENT, BUILT WITH FRESH AIR AND NATURAL LIGHT.

ORIGINALLY, THE BUILDING WAS DESIGNED TO TREAT 850 PATIENTS.

THEY HOUSED ALMOST 3000 BY 1935.

OVER THE YEARS, DOCTORS TREATED PATIENTS WITH WHAT WERE CONSIDERED THE BEST THERAPIES AT THE TIME, INCLUDING LITHIUM, LOBOTOMY, AND ELECTROSHOCK THERAPY.

BY THE 1970S, THE BUILDING WAS FALLING INTO DISREPAIR AND BECOMING INCREASINGLY EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN.

DESPITE EFFORTS BY THE PRESERVATIONIST TO SAVE THE VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE, THE MASSIVE HOSPITAL WAS COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED.

THE PATIENT SAID THAT AT THE HOSPITAL AND WHOSE FAMILIES DENY THE RESOURCES FOR BURIAL ARE LIKELY THOSE BURIED ON THE PROPERTY AT HILLTOP.

THE STATE ALSO BURIED INMATES FROM THE OHIO PENITENTIARY.

MANY OF THE HEADSTONES ARE IN BAD SHAPE.

THEY'RE MARKED WITH SERIAL NUMBERS OR READ, UNKNOWN.

AT LEAST ONE VICTIM OF THE 1868 ASYLUM FIRE IS KNOWN TO BE BURIED THERE.

ONE HAS DONE AS PART INTEREST AMONGST VISITORS IS MARKED SPECIMENS.

THERE IS SPECULATION ALIGNED ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE BURIED THERE THE TRUTH IS, WE DON'T KNOW.

PARTS OF CADAVERS USED FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH IS A LIKELY ANSWER.

FOR THE TIME BEING, IT WILL HAVE TO REMAIN A MYSTERY.

>>> TO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR CURIOUS CBUS?

YOU CAN GO TO WWW.WOSU.ORG TO SUBMIT YOUR IDEA.

YOUR QUESTION COULD BE THE NEXT CURIOUS CBUS STORY.

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WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON "COLUMBUS NEIGHBORHOODS".

[ music ] [ music ]