downtownsnob

Downtown trivia: Plan B for the ballpark

Like me, you're probably watching the fabulous new Huntington Park coming to life in the Arena District. No question, it looks great. There's a lot of energy and excitement around it.

I should say: Now that the decision is made and the ground is broken (heck, not just broken, but blooming), my issues over gentrification have been left far behind. I can't wait for opening day. Heck, I might even buy season tickets.

I digress.

Did you know: The other finalist location for the ballpark was the site of the new Franklin County courthouse - right on High Street. What a different downtown that would have been - seamlessly connecting the struggling Brewery District back to the growing Short North. Embracing work and play in one place - instead of sectioning off all entertainment into pre-defined dist

Alas, just more armored buses for the south end of town.

Secrets of Downtown Columbus: The ghosts of the Arena District

Did you know:

The Arena District was once home to the storied state penitentiary.The Pen was a somewhat-notorious edifice that thousands passed through, but it was one escape that made national news:

On Easter Sunday, April 21, 1930, the cramped cell blocks filled with black smoke. An inmate set a number of fires in hopes of escaping unnoticed in the chaos and confusion. Some have claimed that prison guards purposely allowed the cell doors to stay locked longer than necessary. The only thing we know for sure is that over 300 convicts died that day inside of the prison. Many of them never even made it out of their cells.

The ghosts of some of those inmates are rumored to still haunt the Arena area. Making themselves known in the condos and theaters surrounding the former prison grounds.