Fancyburg Park history

One cannot discuss the history of Upper Arlington without beginning at the Miller Farm, purchased in 1859 by Doctor Henry Miller and his wife, Almeda.

In 1870 Henry Miller acquired 100 acres north of what is now Fifth Avenue, overlooking the Scioto River Valley.

King Thompson, a Georgetown, Ohio native, moved to Columbus in 1897 to study at The Ohio State University, leaving home with nothing but a horse and wagon.

By 1913 the Miller family lands had grown to include the entire area bounded by Fifth Avenue, Dublin Road, Lane Avenue and North Star Road.

The first troops arrived in July 1916 and left for Camp Pershing in El Paso, Texas and began to arrive in Texas by late August.

Originally, King Thompson planned to call the area the Country Club District, however, by 1917, the community had taken on a different name.

On June 17, 1918, Upper Arlington was incorporated as a village.

With adoption of a village charter in 1919, the form of government transitioned to a commission.

The commission established its first police force in 1921, hiring one day and two nighttime officers.

Upper Arlington became a city in 1941, once its population exceeded 5,000.

One section of this newly-acquired property was designated for the new high school (at 1650 Ridgeview Road), and our community approved the corresponding bond issue in 1954.

In 1956, citizens voted to amend the City Charter, adopting a council-manager form of government—which remains in place today—with the first two women elected to serve on a seven-member City Council.

While growth represented progress, City leaders understood it should be a thoughtful process, creating the City’s first Master Plan in 1962.

And in 1973, the City purchased farmland from Benn Blinn along Kioka Avenue that became Fancyburg Park, named after his wife’s pet name for Upper Arlington.

Founded in 1976 as a not-for-profit volunteer organization, the Upper Arlington Historical Society collects archival materials, shares historical information, conducts educational programs, sponsors commemorative activities, promotes historic preservation, and serves as a community resource.

Ohio Magazine (1978 - present)

With few opportunities remaining to expand the city’s footprint and a population experiencing a slight decline, 40 years on the City embarked on a major Master Plan update process, with the new plan adopted in 2001.

He led efforts to acquire or develop major community parks, including Fancyburg, Northwest Kiwanis, and Lane Road (renamed Thompson Park in 2004 in his honor).

Most recently, in 2010 the City created Sunny 95 Park, thanks to a gift/purchase agreement with a neighboring radio station of the same name.

Subsequently, in 2011 the City accepted a gift of the Amelita Mirolo Barn rental facility at the park, the result of a signature fundraising effort of the Upper Arlington Community Foundation.

16 after volunteering for the organization since 2015 and spending the past three years as assistant director.