Loving Lived Here

Loving Lived Here. . In 1920, a writer for the Architectural Forum wrote about this rambling structure. “To find an interesting piece of architecture in a medium size, Middle West town was likened to chancing on an oasis in a none-too-fertile country.” He especially recommended architects Howell and Thomas for achieving such fine results in the North Italian style while incorporating and adding to an existing residental structure. , The house that was the nucleus of the funeral home may still be seen in the center of the drawing. Lyne Staling (1784-1848), a local wealthy community leader, bought the land at a sheriff's sale in 1809. The house was built during the Civil War by businessman John Joyce. In 1884 Dr. Starling Loving (1827-1911), a great nephew of Lyne Starling, bought the house and lived here until his death. , In 1847 Lyne Starling gave $30,000 to build a hospital and medical school under one roof. For the first time in America, medical education and patient care were integrated into one facility, a concept which was years ahead of its time. The building was at the southeast corner of State and 6th Streets and was known as Starling Medical College. , Dr. Starling Loving graduated from Starling Medical College in 1849. He was president and honors man of his class. He was invited to intern at New York's Bellevue Hospital. Later he became surgeon for the Panama Railroad, but returned to Columbus to begin almost a lifetime of teaching at his alma mater. He was responsible for bringing the Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis to Columbus and leasing part of the school to them for a hospital. Most people can remember the building as St. Francis Hospital, which was torn down for the new Grant Hospital. , When Dr. Loving died, his daughter and her husband, Dr. Charles S. Hamilton, bought the house and lived there until 1916. Dr. Hamilton became chancellor of Starling-Ohio Medical College, now University Hospital. , Philip Schoedinger (1825-1880), a cabinet maker born in Dorrenbach, Germany, founded the funeral establishment in 1855. This company is therefore Columbus' oldest family-owned business. In 1916 second generation J. Albert (1870-1932), and third generation brothers Ferdinand P. (1881-1935) and George R. (1884-1961), purchased the land for their new funeral home. Today the funeral home is operated by the 4th, 5th, and 6th generations Robert S., John F., John A., David S., Michael S., and John R. Schoedinger. This handsome chapel, completed in 1918, was the first in Columbus and one of the earliest in America of such magnitude. The bell over its entry was rung only once, according to 4th generation John Schoedinger, when some waggish associate told a new man that he was to ring the bell each morning at five. After his one performance, the bell rope was removed. , Dedicated to the people we serve September 19, 2001