(See more pictures below)
Before I begin the story of the cross, I'd like to share my personal knowledge of Walter (Bud) Schwartz and Elizabeth Smith (Betty) Schwartz. In 1960, when I attended high school in Columbus, they often came to the Diary Queen where I worked evenings. Nightly, Bud would drive to downtown Columbus and pick up Betty after she finished working at Lazarus for the day. They lived in the North end of Columbus on Osceola Ave near where Bud grew up. He also owned a drug store with a small radio and TV repair shop in the rear, which was located on the west side of Columbus. A few years earlier, he had attended a night school called RETS where he had studied electronic servicing. Once, I paid him a visit and took a tour of his store and service shop. Before leaving his shop, he gave me an old home made radio which took three different sized batteries. I never did try to make it work, and gave it to a friend who would appreciate this type of radio. At the time, Betty was very soft spoken and was working in the cosmetic department of Lazarus, and had been for some years. I don't know why she worked at Lazarus, and not as a nurse, because she attended nursing school after graduating from high school in Nelsonville. She often spoke of living in Nelsonville, OH when she was young, and loved growing up in Nelsonville. When I knew them, I had no idea where Nelsonville was located. Recently, I found out she had lived on Myers Street during her school years or until she moved to Columbus to attend the Grant Hospital Nurses training school. Betty was born on April 8, 1907 in Nelsonville, and died on January 25, 1972 near Columbus, OH. Bud was born on May 31, 1906 in Warren County and died on October 30, 1989 in Columbus. (although he was living in a mobile home in Hebron, OH). When Betty was 23, she and Bud were married on July 22, 1930 at Buckeye Lake with Josephine Porter of Nelsonville acting as her maid of honor with Leo Alkaire of Akron as the best man. After the wedding, they traveled to New York, Boston and Atlantic City for a short honeymoon. After her death in 1972, Bud was really heart broken and often visited Nelsonville to help him with the pain of losing her. Every Sunday he visited the church she attended when she was young, and often drove by her Myers Steet home thinking of all the stories she told him about growing up in Nelsonville. After several meetings with Rev. John Lloyd Evans the pastor of The First Presbyterian Church to share his grief, they decided that Bud would try and erect a Cross over looking Nelsonville, honoring Betty and Nelsonville. He also wanted to provide a tribute to God because of her strong Christian faith. I don't know what happened in the beginning or where he started the project, but in April of 1973 the Cross was erected and dedicated on Kontner's Hill over looking the City of Nelsonville. At the base of the cross is a plaque that reads: "My Thanks This “Nelsonville Cross Park,” a Memorial to my dear beloved and wonderful wife “Betty,” has become a reality because of the wisdom and untiring efforts of the Rev. John Lloyd Evans, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. The land for this nondenominational inspirational park was donated by Mrs. Emily Sharp Hennessey, in memory of her father and mother, Mr. And Mrs. Edward B. Sharp, who beautified this hillside with lovely pines. Distinguished recognition of appreciation is due: the Nelsonville Area Improvement Committee; the City of Nelsonville; the York Township; the Athens County Engineer’s Office; the Electric Company; Mr. Eugene Edwards; Mr. William M. Watkins; Mr. Harold Bean; Councilman Mr. Reginald Levering, for his time and labor in cutting down hundreds of trees, thus clearing a path for the road to this park. My thanks to everyone, and to you who come to glory in the “Cross.” Walter L. Schwartz Donor of the “Cross” Then next to that large plaque is a smaller one that reads: "Nelsonville Cross A Tribute to God A Memorial to Betty" In 1974, Walter Schwartz even wrote and published a song called "Beautiful Nelsonville Cross". I was also able to take a few pictures of the sheet music and summary on the inside jacket. The sheet music is located in the Nelsonville library. (While viewing the summary, a left click makes it large enough to read) In June of 1981, the Cross was heavily damaged by high winds and had to be rebuilt and redesigned which took most of the maintenance funds that Bud had deposited in a local bank to maintain the cross into perpetuity. He even sold his home to help with the rebuilding costs which amounted to over $30,000. The Cross was returned to it's place on the hill in October 1983. The day the rebuilt cross was lowered in place, Eugene (Joe) Edwards from the local cable station, and Walter (Bud) Schwartz were on hand watching the new cross being put in place. Bud mentioned to Mr. Edwards that not only was the cross a memorial to Betty, and a tribute to God, but he also felt an obligation to Nelsonville to rebuild the cross providing a tourist destination for the city. A few years later, the cross was darkened due to vandalism and each time the lights were replaced, vandals would break the bulbs again and again. So for years, the cross was only seen during the daylight hours. Then in 1996 Steve Cox, the president of First National Bank, discussed getting the cross illuminated again. With the help of the bank's board of directors, he organized the community members including John H. Johnson of Murray City who did much of the electrical work as a volunteer. This involved many hours of rewiring hoping to make it vandal proof using a pole mounted light box. Getting the Cross lit again took a total community effort. Recently, the Brooks Shoe Company bought the property below the cross and removed the trees that had grown too large which blocked much of the cross from being seen. The cross continues to get community support to help keep it visable during the day and night. Because Betty loved Nelsonville so much, upon her death, Bud had her buried in the Nelsonville (Doanville) Greenlawn Cemetery where they both are now buried. As their headstone reads, they are together forever. I'd like to thank The Nelsonville Public Library, and Ms. Barbra Jean Hathcock of Columbus for their help while doing the research needed for this page. I'd also like to invite input from the Nelsonville community for additional information or images. I would like to show a picture of the cross when it was damaged, and a better image of Walter (Bud) Schwartz. Please use this link to email me your comments, images or other information (cookt@ohio.edu). While doing research for this page, I was able to discover Nelsonville for myself and decided to add a few images from around town. First I thought I'd share the image of the fully restored nineteenth century theater Stuarts Opera House (Link) (Info Link) located on the Historical Public Square about a block from the First Presbyterian Church.
 
While walking in the square, I discovered a few stores that had the neatest items and the nicest people who impressed me so much, I wanted to share them here just incase you are planning a trip to Nelsonville to ride the Hocking Valley Train, and viewing the Nelsonville Cross. So be sure to stop a see Nelsonville Pottery and visit with Jennifer, then stop in Starbrick Clay, also next door to Starbrick Clay is Studio Four Gift Shop, all of which have some very nice gifts. I also saw many of the famous Star Bricks that were made in the city of Nelsonville for years. I'd like to thank my neighbor, Mark Barsamian, who accompanied me to the cross after dark. to page one of the Athens county image pages. |
