Reynoldsburg in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Livingston House
The Livingston House was the home of Alexander Livingston (1821-1898). In 1864-1865, Nathan Orcutt, cabinetmaker, built Livingston's house with slate roof, clapboard siding, ash floors, twenty-one windows and four doors, central fireplace, seven bedrooms, two kitchens, pantry, parlor, and living room. Outbuildings included a milk house and a long work shed. Blue freestone for the foundation was locally cut from William Forrester's quarry. Sawed stone formed the summer kitchen and washhouse floor and the basement walls. The woodwork was hand-carved and the entire house had a “furniture finish.” Livingston and his family lived here until 1880. (Continued on other side)
Side B:
(Continued from other side)
Alexander W. Livingston (1821-1898) improved and stabilized the wild tomato for commercial use, producing disease-resistant tomatoes suitable for every taste, soil, and climate. Beginning in 1870 with the red Paragon, he perfected fourteen or more new, stable varieties, including his purple Acme and yellow Golden Queen. Livingston's True Blue Seeds were nationally recognized as highest quality. Many Reynoldsburg residents worked here at the 136-acre A.W. Livingston Buckeye Seed Gardens, or grew seed tomatoes for Livingston on their own land. Today, American tomato farmers earn more than $1.5 billion annually.
Erected 2003 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The Longaberger Company, Livingston House Society, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 59-25.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.
Location. 39° 56.879′ N, 82° 47.756′ W. Marker is in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, in Franklin County. Marker is at the intersection of Graham Road and Palmer Road, on the right when traveling north on Graham Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1792 Graham Road, Reynoldsburg OH 43068, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Reynoldsburg - Birthplace of the Tomato (within shouting distance of this marker); Reynoldsburg (approx. 0.6 miles away); Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9473 War Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9473 Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Mile Markers (approx. 0.7 miles away); Union Veteran Legion Sherman Monument (approx. 2˝ miles away); Forest Lawn Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.7 miles away); Francis H. Game Cemetery (approx. 3.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Reynoldsburg.
Also see . . .
1. Alexander W. Livingston. Ohio History central website entry (Submitted on March 30, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Alexander W. Livingston Pioneer Seedsman and the Father of the Modern Tomato. Victory Horticultural Library website entry (Submitted on March 30, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 2, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 27, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,485 times since then and 92 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 27, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on June 20, 2010, by Irina of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 9. submitted on March 27, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.