Uptown Westerville history: the hanging iconic Christmas star.
The December 5, 1935, edition of the Westerville Public Opinion newspaper reported “The business section of the village has taken on a holiday appearance with the erection of the Christmas decorations. A noteworthy addition this year is a huge star electrically lighted and hanging high over the street at the corner of State and Main. The star was made by George Alexander. Stores are now displaying their holiday merchandise and Christmas shopping will get under way in earnest in a few days. Shop at home is a slogan to bear in mind.”
Today the Star is “hanging high over the street” at the intersection of State and Home, one block further north. Attaching a cable to the aging brick and timber frame of the Weyant Block (built 1883) and the Hotel Holmes (built 1889) had become a gamble versus a strong wind. While the history of the old location was bid farewell, its replacement has its own historical significance…noted in picture below.
Did George Alexander make the Star? Not so per a Facebook post of a couple years ago. Alexander was a tinner and operated a tinsmith business in a small building at the rear of his 43 East College Avenue house. Employed by him was Henry Alford, another tinner, who lived a block away. According to Barbara Alford Eastman, a 1959 graduate of Westerville High School, her father Henry made the Star. A neighbor of Henry, who still resides in the neighborhood, agrees. In the barn behind his house at 47 East Home Street, Alford also made two small stars and one a bit larger. One small star has survived as has the template for the larger one.
Who is correct? Perhaps the Public Opinion reporter should have more clearly stated that the Star was made in George Alexander’s tin shop. Perhaps George Alexander should have more clearly stated one of my employees made the Star. Or perhaps both men worked on it…Henry built the framework and George electrified it. Enjoy the Star. :)
Published December 2023. Revised December 2025. Don Foster donfoster73@gmail.com
State & Main Streets above and below, the original location of the Westerville Star.
Soft brick of the Weyant Block (Old Bag of Nails Pub).
Relocated to State & Home Streets, north end of Uptown.The history of the State & Home Streets intersection follows below.80 North State Street. King’s Sunoco built circa 1935. There were 4 gas stations in the Uptown area: Sunoco, Pure Oil, Standard Oil, and Shell. This is the only survivor. Photo credit: Westerville History Museum.Same gas station, but with an addition and reconfigured. No longer sells gas. Now Joe’s Service. Photo credit: Dave Grandominico, current owner and Joe’s son.
History plaque placed on the front of the building.
74 North State Street. Culver Art & Frame built in 1913. Today houses Birdie Books. Culver is still in business and located in Lewis Center.Photo credit: Westerville History Museum.
History plaque placed on the front of the building.
Beeney Pure Oil. NE corner, State & Home. Now Church of the Messiah parking lot. Photo credit: Westerville History Museum.
Photo of Ivan Ryland Beeney, Jr. provided by daughter Sandra Beeney Bumgarner.
Photo credit: Westerville History Museum.85 North State Street. Residence of Henry and Sarah Cheever “Sally” Dyxon and likely built circa 1875-1880. The Dyxons had 9 children. Mr. Dyxon owned H. Dyxon Drugs located, in 1872, at 34 North State Street (most recently housed Stone and Sparrow Apparel; future occupant is Little Sparrows Boutique). Pictured above are the second occupants of the house, the family of Dr. George and Isabel Scott. Dr. Scott was a member of the Otterbein faculty from 1870-1931 including serving a term as president of the University. Mrs. Scott taught art at Otterbein from 1893-1912. Photo credit: Westerville History Museum.85 North State Street today.77 North State Street. Residence of Frederick and Ella Brewer Scofield and likely built circa 1880-1885. The Scofields had 2 children. Mr. Scofield opened Scofield’s Dry Goods in 1880 located at 31 North State Street (today occupied by Stone and Sparrow Apparel). Initially his son Lovett worked there. The obituary of Mrs. Scofield, who ran the store after her husband passed away, stated that she “had the distinction of being with the group who rode into town on the first train to arrive here in 1873 when she was 16.”
Public Opinion 4/13/1903. The house was likely built by Fred and his first wife Martha who passed away in 1886. Fred remarried Ella Brewer in 1889. Her father George may have been the original contractor.
Ella Scofield Harnett, seated in the middle. After Fred passed away in 1906, she remarried. She died in the house in 1946 after having lived there for 57 years. Photo credit: Westerville History Museum.51 North State Street. This building, built in 1887, was razed and replaced by the current Church of the Messiah, United Methodist.An educational wing was later added to the 1887 church.
Westerville Public Opinion 10/11/1923.
The stuccoed church. Photo credit: Westerville History Museum.
History plaque placed by the south front entry to Church of the Messiah.
George Alexander, tinner and also a musician. Photo credit: Westerville History Museum.
The home of George and Myrtle Alexander, 43 East College Avenue. The tinsmith business was located in one of the two green buildings (not sure which) that were moved together years later and attached. The Westerville Star was made here. This is how the property looks today.
Westerville Public Opinion 3/2/1938.
Henry Alford and his family in the lawn of theirhome. Photo credit: grandson Dana Alford.The home of Henry and Margaret Alford, 47 East Home Street. Two small stars and a larger one were made in the barn. Photo credit: grandson Dana Alford.
Henry later worked for Kilgore. Westerville Public Opinion 5/23/1985.
47 East Home Street, and barn, today.
The electric lights of the Star were refurbished by the City of Westerville’s Service Department. Dana Alford, grandson of Henry, and his cousin Julie Doup check out the task. Photo credit: Dana Alford.The star Dana is holding was displayed in the window of the Cinda Lou shop during Christmas season 2023. Photo credit: Dana Alford.
Ending a bit off the subject of the Star…but still Christmas. Public Opinion 12/23/1900.
Public Opinion. All three of these locations still stand: Moses’ is Deja Vu Resale Boutique, Markley’s is Graeter’s Ice Cream, and Bookman’s most recently housed Abbey Rose Boutique in the Hotel Holmes. A new venture is to occupy the Abbey Rose space sometime in 2026.
Great Christmas tribute! Glad to hear the star has been refurbished and hung back up on Main St. Love the children’s Christmas letters to Santa. Times have really changed. Just imagine what kids are asking for this year!
Histories and Mysteries 
Great Christmas tribute! Glad to hear the star has been refurbished and hung back up on Main St. Love the children’s Christmas letters to Santa. Times have really changed. Just imagine what kids are asking for this year!
LikeLike