1251 Bryden Rd stood as home to Central Community House from 1965 to 2005. Now this 1891-built house and carriage house will be renovated as a quaint satellite campus adding a working art gallery, art studios, community meeting space, conference rooms and a caretaker’s residence to the corner of Bryden Road and Wilson Avenue.

About the Naming Benefactors: Walter and Marian English

Born and raised in Columbus, Mr. English was a graduate of East High School and The Ohio State University. He spent his entire business career in the field of wholesale food distribution. He started the Walter English Company in the attic of his parents’ home on Bryden Road when he was 19 years old. The company grew steadily and eventually Mr. English purchased the home and converted it into his office. He operated the company for more than 60 years, retiring in 1991. Mr. English was active in many central Ohio organizations. His best-known project was COSI. He was named COSI’s first president in 1964, serving for 19 years. His support of the former Community Chest helped that organization grow into today’s United Way of Central Ohio. Mrs. English, also a graduate of The Ohio State University, shared her husband’s interests. She died in 1987 and Mr. English died in 1998.

The daughters of Walter and Marian English, Ellen Julian and Polly Lassettre, continued the family’s tradition of giving. When asked to serve as the lead benefactor for Central Community House’s Center for Art and Community, the family quickly and graciously agreed to honor their roots with the naming gift to create the Walter and Marian English Center for Art and Community.