General Meeting & Program

History Unveiled: Two New Markers, Two Enduring Legacies

Exploring the Histories of the Turk-Gilkey House and Flint Ridge Terrace

Thursday, Nov. 5th, 7-8:30 pm

The Griswold Center, 777 High Street

Free, Open to the Public

Discover the stories behind Worthington’s two newest Ohio Historical Markers. One marker, at Flint Ridge Terrace, will be dedicated on October 25th.  The Society also just learned that a second marker at the Turk-Gilkey House has been accepted into the program to be erected in the fall of 2027.  Join Worthington Historical Society Executive Director Kate LaLonde for an exploration of the history behind both sites.  

The program will look at the Turk-Gilkey House at 108 West New England, where Henry and Dolly Turk became among the earliest known African American homeowners in Worthington.  Hear about the Turk family and how we have learned about their story.

The program will also examine the history of Flint Ridge Terrace, the neighborhood developed by Robert and Frances Johnson that expanded homeownership opportunities for African American families in the Worthington area during the 1950s and 1960s. Speakers will include members of the original Flint Ridge Terrace families, who will share firsthand memories of growing up in the neighborhood and its lasting impact on their lives.  This marker was part of the 2026 special call for “Ohio Originals: Highlighting Points of Pride and Unity” as part of the America 250 celebration.

Together, these stories reveal how ordinary people shaped extraordinary chapters in Worthington’s history.

There will be a short business meeting before the program.