Graceland...who is Graceland named after? Would you buy this story?
Graceland is in north Columbus. Today it is called Graceland Shopping Center. Graceland has a Target, a Kroger, an Urban Active, an Applebees, an OfficeMax and more...
When the mall was developed by Don M. Casto and Don M. Casto Jr. it was named Graceland Shoppers Mart... or the sign on the land called the future shopping center, Graceland Shoppers Mart in 1953. The shopping center opened in 1954.
I think I first read about the "Madam" who turns out to be named "Grace" on Don O'Brien's Flickr photostream with this picture of the sign on the land in 1953. O'Brien took this photo for the Worthington News. On Flickr on his photo of the remains of the house on the farm called "Graceland" and the sign announcing the new shopping center, named Graceland, O'Brien quotes the Graceland site of George Campbell about the story of the name:
"Graceland was built on a former horse farm, named "Graceland", that was co-owned by a Columbus Bookmaker and his wife, a Madam. When the property came up for sale, the Casto and Gibson families purchased it for $100,000."
Yes Graceland is named after Grace but would you buy this story?
Graceland the shopping area is named after Graceland the horse farm... named after someone named Grace... see 'How Graceland got it's name' and 'Graceland a Colorful History in Black and White' links below...
The Other Paper in May 2011 offered this story about who the Columbus shopping center is named after, quoting Clintonville Historian Shirley Hyatt, Lyndsey Teter wrote:
"Casto says it is named after his mother, not the Madam," but that story is commonly rejected, Hyatt said. Plus, that version "is just not as much fun."
More of the story of Graceland....
Graceland a Colorful History in Black and White
Graceland Shopping Center - 2010
Graceland Shopping Center (a photo of remains of the "Madam's house" at the Graceland horse farm before the Graceland Shopping Center was developed)
Photo Credit: Don O'Brien's photo of the Graceland sign from the 1950s is licensed with a Creative Commons license. He grew up in the Worthington area and has great Columbus and Worthington photos from the 1930s on, on his Flickr photostream. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dok1/ / CC BY 2.0 I believe this is one of the photos he took for the Worthington News.
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Maureen,
Nice local history post. I like the sign stating "Site of Multi Million Dollar Graceland Shoppers Mart" . Back then Multi Million Dollar was a big deal. Today it would be billions.
Make it a great day !!
Maureen I love history and especially local history with which I am not familiar with:)) I first thought it would Be Graceland as in Elvis country:)) pleasant and interesting surprise:)
It's a funny story. Thanks for stopping by.