List of Lawsuits
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Below is a list of reported lawsuits involving Olentangy Park or its management.
| Year | Plaintiff | Defense | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | W. B. Flynn | W. J. Dusenbury | For unpaid work after being hired to design and construct an electric sign for Olentangy and Minerva parks at High and Broad streets for $75$2,855 in 2025 dollars. Dusenbury claimed not to know Flynn and said another party designed and built the sign at 7 South High Street.[1] |
| 1900 | American School Furniture Company Grand Rapids School Furniture Company |
Eli M. West Joseph W. Dusenbury The Olentangy Park Company |
For $928.88$35,364 in 2025 dollars for unpaid contracted work involving furnishing and setup of chairs for the Theater.[2] Dusenbury and West filed a demurrer to the petition a month later, claiming the facts weren't sufficient for action.[3] |
| 1900 | Vern Ramsey | E. T. Simmons | For $64$2,437 in 2025 dollars for ads in the programs of the Olentangy and Minerva Park theaters.[4] |
| 1901 | Daniel H. Mackey Otho L. Hays |
Olentangy Park Company | For $1,400$52,322 in 2025 dollars when owners of the ball grounds raised rent and requested fencing to be removed. See more info here: Hays-Mackey v. The Olentangy Park Co.[5][6] |
| 1902 | Olentangy Park Company | John Field | For $250$9,296 in 2025 dollars on a contract for $450$17,339 in 2025 dollars for the program privilege during the 1899 season.[7] The judge ruled the park company should receive $174.25$6,480 in 2025 dollars because Field already paid $100$3,719 in 2025 dollars and did not receive credit.[8] |
| 1902 | Henrietta B. Burgher | Estate of Henry T. Chittenden | The ex-wife of Henry T. Chittenden filed an equitable relief suit against Chittenden's property, asking for the foreclosure of a mortgage, causing liens on the property, and a receiver. This property included Olentangy Park. The property the park sat on, along with other parts, was to receive 6 percent interest, but this interest allegedly went unpaid since July 1, 1901. Only $10,000$371,859 in 2025 dollars has been paid on the property, where $50,000$1,859,297 in 2025 dollars was owed. Bugher wanted the mortgage satisfied by the sale of Olentangy Park and the property on Cussins Street.[9] Through the lawsuit investigation, it was discovered that park manager J. W. Dusenbury signed a 99-year lease on the park's property, renewable forever, beginning in March 1901 for a monthly cost of $250$9,296 in 2025 dollars. The Columbus Railway Company waived its lease on the property. The total mortgage for 27 acres was $52,699.25$1,959,671 in 2025 dollars.[10][11] |
| 1902 | Rev. J. M. Riddle P. W. Chavous |
Olentangy Park Company | Field missionary for the Baptist Church and the proprietor of the local Black newspaper accused park employees of preventing them from bowling, and that this was not an uncommon occurrence.[12] |
| 1902 | Henry Becker | Joseph W. Dusenbury Will J. Dusnbury |
For $204$7,586 in 2025 dollars for groceries furnished at Olentangy Park, Minerva Park, and Bryden Hotel.[13] This was later increased to $206.95$7,696 in 2025 dollars.[14] |
| 1904 | F. R. Brown | Joseph W. Dusenbury | For $108.60$3,923 in 2025 dollars due for building materials.[15] |
| 1904 | Page Woven Wire Fence Company | Joseph W. Dusenbury The Olentangy Park Company |
For $814.39$29,415 in 2025 dollars due for labor and materials.[16] |
References
- ↑ "Dusenbury's Answer." Columbus Dispatch. May 24, 1900. Page 9.
- ↑ "Furniture Company Brings Suit Against Dusenbury, West and Olentangy Park Co." "The Columbus Sunday Dispatch." Sept. 9, 1900. Page 6.
- ↑ "Olentangy Theater Decision." "Saturday Columbus Dispatch." Oct. 6, 1900. Page 6.
- ↑ "Sued for Ads." The Billboard. Oct. 10, 1900. Vol. 12. Issue 25. Page 6. Accessed through Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/sim_billboard_1900-10-20_12_25/mode/2up
- ↑ "Beat the Injunction." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 27, 1901. Page 7.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park Fences." Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 11, 1901. Page 6.
- ↑ "Brevities." Columbus Evening Dispatch. March 24, 1902. Page 7.
- ↑ "Justices' Court." Saturday Columbus Dispatch. April 12, 1902. Page 7.
- ↑ "H.T. Chittenden Sued." Friday Columbus Dispatch. June 13, 1902. Page 7.
- ↑ "Mrs. Burgher's Note." Wednesday Columbus Dispatch. July 23, 1902. Page 7.
- ↑ "Park Notes." The Billboard, March 8, 1902. Vol. 14. Issue 10. Page 3. Accessed through the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/sim_billboard_1902-03-08_14_10/page/3/mode/2up
- ↑ "Color Line Drawn." Thursday Columbus Dispatch. July 17, 1902. Page 6.
- ↑ Tuesday Columbus Dispatch. Oct. 28, 1902. Page 8.
- ↑ "Court Notes." Monday Columbus Dispatch. Nov. 17, 1902. Page 5.
- ↑ Columbus Evening Dispatch. June 10, 1904. Page 2.
- ↑ Columbus Evening Dispatch. Aug. 31, 1904. Page 6.