Court Street Connections

Court Street Connections. . , A "Marriage Mill" City , From the mid-1920s to the early 1950s, Bowling Green was among fifty-three towns in the United States referred to as "marriage mills.", Merriam-Webster defines a marriage mill as "a place where it is possible to marry with a minimum of formality or delay.", According to research by former city resident Patricia F. Smith, "the 'marriage mill town' days of Bowling Green spanned some 27 years, two probate judges, more than 30 clergymen, and approximately eight to ten justices of the peace, one of whom married couples for more than 25 years.", The home at 216 E. Court St. (top left) was built by Wood County Judge Charles Nearing and served as the judge's chamber, a location for jury deliberation and recess, and... a place to be married., Nearing officiated marriages for many couples in front of the fireplace in the home's formal parlor (middle left). With 454 marriages performed between 1920 and 1942, the city's "marriage mill" days, Nearing married more couples than anyone else in Bowling Green., Trinity United Methodist Church , A longstanding legacy , The first church to occupy the northeast corner of E. Court St. and N. Summit St. was a brick church completed by the Bowling Green United Brethren in Christ Church in 1880., By 1900, the congregation had grown from 15 to 450 members. In 1911, when the Center (Township) U.B. Church disbanded and its members joined Trinity United Brethren Church, it became obvious that the old church had become too small. "The spirit was in the air for a new, bigger building." The dream of the new church building was realized when the church held their Dedication Service on March 29, 1914., The Neoclassical exterior recalls the Pantheon in Rome: a portico with four columns supporting a triangular pediment. The dome, while impressive from the outside, is best appreciated when it is illuminated and viewed from inside. The stained glass of the dome and the windows along the south side of the sanctuary and in most of the apse are original., The Woman's Club Of Bowling Green , "Not for Self But for Others" , The Woman's Club (now Women's Club) of Bowling Green was organized in May 1920 to bring together the women of Bowling Green and surrounding areas for personal and community improvement. Along with monthly meetings, club members organized and sponsored cultural and intellectual events including concerts, book discussions, local theater, lectures, and study groups., In 1923, the club achieved its goal of owning its own clubhouse. Built in 1878, the home at 134 N. Prospect St., on the southeast corner of N. Prospect St. and E. Court St. (below), was remodeled with an addition that included a 40 x 20-ft dining room, a large kitchen and a storeroom. The clubhouse was sold in 2014, but the Women's Club of Bowling Green remains active in the community.,