East Liberty: Mills, College and Local History

East Liberty tells its story through tangible changes: John Bower laid out the settlement in 1834; mills, education, and industry shaped later chapters. There is also the history of East Liberty School and a local pizzeria. If you enjoy tracing how a place has developed when you travel, East Liberty offers several themes that can be connected into a common thread. When looking for a vacation rental, it helps to first choose the focus you want: Should your stay be centered mainly on local history, or would you like to combine historical traces with a specific dining option?

Mills and Early Local History

Over the course of its history, East Liberty was also known as Garwood Mills. Shortly after John Bower laid out the village, John Garwood moved his mill there. When East Liberty was still called Garwood Mills, the first gristmill was built there. People even brought wheat from Urbana to be milled. The early history of the settlement thus brings together a distinctive place name and the hands-on work of a gristmill. Urbana gives the mill story a connection beyond East Liberty: the town became part of the story as the source of the wheat delivered there.

College and Industry

A later chapter began in 1882 with the founding of Central Ohio College in East Liberty. The college offered courses in science, literature, business, music, and art, as well as teacher training. This range combined scientific and creative subjects with preparation for a career in teaching, giving the college’s history more substance than a single founding date. After the college closed in 1894, the building was used for several years as a three-year high school. This makes it possible to trace the sequence of its founding, course offerings, and the building’s later use.

The town’s industrial development is also part of its history. Ernest H. Harding founded the Harding Machine Screw Company in East Liberty in 1913. During both world wars, the company supported the U.S. war effort. Alongside mills and educational institutions, this adds another chapter to local history: the development of a company whose historical role spanned both world wars.

School History and Historical Markers

The East Liberty School marker commemorates the first settler, Job Sharp, and his wife, Dr. Phebe Sharp. The school was built in 1906 and an addition was added in 1936. The marker stands at the site of the former school building in Perry Township Park; check current location information before visiting. The site brings together the memory of the Sharps and the school’s construction history.

Another marker is titled “Garwoods Mill Site/Home of John Garwood.” It was erected on the eastern edge of East Liberty in 1952 and later moved to the lawn of the East Liberty Library. The markers emphasize different things: the school marker focuses on people and the building’s history, while the Garwood marker’s story also includes its change of location.

Local Pizza and Choosing a Vacation Rental

Pop’s Pizza Parlor is located at 3215 N Main St in East Liberty. Pizzas are available with cheese, pepperoni, sausage, or onions, as well as combinations of these toppings. Menu details may change; if a particular option matters to your plans, check the current menu in advance. The pizzeria adds a specific local dining option to the historical themes.

Consider whether you would like to get to know East Liberty mainly through its history or through a mix of local history and food.

Discover more destinations: Bellefontaine.

For the broader travel overview: Logan.