Notable people · Inventor · Cement Manufacturer
George Wells Bartholomew Jr.
George Bartholomew, born in Bristol, Connecticut, moved to Logan County in 1886 and founded the Buckeye Portland Cement Company in Bellefontaine. He tested concrete paving on Main Street in 1891, and in 1893 paved the courthouse streets including Court Avenue. Court Avenue is the oldest surviving concrete street in the U.S.
At a glance
- Born
- 1848-08-24
- Died
- 1933-03-01
- Education
- Cement study in Germany and San Antonio, Texas
- Known as
- Inventor, Cement Manufacturer
- Organizations
- Buckeye Portland Cement Company
Life story
George Bartholomew was born in Bristol, Connecticut, in 1848; his father made clocks. He studied cement making in Germany and Texas and ran a hardware store in Austin.
He moved to Bellefontaine, Ohio, in 1886 and founded the Buckeye Portland Cement Company. In 1891 the city council let him try his paving on Main Street, and it worked, so Court Avenue was paved next.
His paving won first place for engineering advancement in paving materials at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and the method spread widely.
He married Hettie Julia Cole and had five children. He died in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1933.
Timeline
- 1848-08-24: Born (Bristol, CT) source
- 1886: Moves to Bellefontaine and founds Buckeye Portland Cement Company (Bellefontaine, OH) source
- 1891: City council approves concrete paving test on Main Street (Bellefontaine, OH) source
- 1893: Court Avenue paved; award at World's Columbian Exposition (Bellefontaine, OH / Chicago) source
- 1933-03-01: Dies (St. Petersburg, FL) source
What George is known for
- Built the first concrete street in the U.S. (Bellefontaine, 1891/1893)
- Buckeye Portland Cement Company
- Court Avenue concrete street, Bellefontaine (1893)
Inventions and firsts
Honors and things named for them
- First Place, paving materials, 1893 World's Columbian Exposition
- Statue in Bellefontaine (1991)
- Court Avenue restored 1962
Family
- wife: Hettie Julia Cole
- father: George W. Bartholomew Sr.
- mother: Angeline Ives
- son: Linn
- son: Tracy
- son: Richard
- daughter: Grace
- daughter: Lucy
Places in Ohio to see
- Court Avenue and Bartholomew statue (statue)
Court Avenue, Bellefontaine, Logan County ZIP 43311 · Bellefontaine · Logan County · official page
Ohio places
Where George Wells Bartholomew Jr. was born, lived, worked and is remembered, with the ZIP code, town and county pages for each.
- Worked: Bellefontaine, Logan County (Court Avenue at Main Street) ZIP 43311 · Bellefontaine · Logan County
Further reading
Sources
Confidence. High: the main facts were confirmed in sources we opened.
- George Bartholomew (Wikipedia) life, award, statue