Asa Hosford is not just a name chiseled into the stone lintel above the front door of a historic house just outside of Galion. He was a man of many roles: a mill operator, a Justice of the Peace, and a state legislator. But perhaps his most enduring title is the “Father of Galion,” a tribute to his tireless efforts to promote the early community’s interests statewide.
In 1828, Hosford witnessed the plat for Greensburg, located along what is now Harding Way West. This was three years before Galion itself was platted. His influence didn’t stop there. As a state legislator, Hosford worked diligently to bring a rail line through the town. His efforts bore fruit in 1851 when the rail line was completed, marking the beginning of Galion’s growth in trade and industry.
The Hosford House
Constructed in 1847, the Asa Hosford House is a rectangular, two-story brick structure with five bays. Interestingly, the house features only one window on the west side, a design choice made to minimize the impact of storms that typically hit from the south and west. Sitting on a prominent rise, the house’s exterior is adorned with unadorned stone lintels above all windows, and the lintel above the front door proudly displays “A. HOSFORD 1847” carved into the stone.
Most of the stone used in the construction is believed to have been cut by Asa Hosford himself, sourced from a quarry along the Olentangy River ravine. This quarry was located across Hosford Road from the house, which is also the site of the former three-story Hosford Mill,. Inside, the house boasts a cut stone fireplace and a solid cherry main staircase, both of which are original to the home. While interior walls primarily date from a 1929 renovation, the exterior remains completely original, save for the shutters. The roof, originally made of wood shingles, adds another layer to the house’s historical charm.
A Family’s Journey: The Hosford Legacy in Galion
The Hosford family’s journey to what is now Galion began just two years after the original arrivals from the East, the Leverich family. On September 19, 1819, Asa Hosford and his brother Horace walked into the area, eventually marrying into other early Galion families, including the Gill Family. The first recorded religious services in Galion were held at the cabin of Benjamin Leverich on September 20, 1820, and Asa Hosford was in attendance.
National Recognition and Beyond
The Asa Hosford House received its due recognition when it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 30, 1976. This listing not only honors the architectural significance of the house but also serves as a testament to Asa Hosford’s contributions to Galion’s history.
