George Bartholemew is celebrated as the man who brought cement and concrete to the Midwest. Called "artificial stone" in the 19th century, the newfangled mixture called concrete hadn't yet been used to pave streets. George convinced the Bellefontaine City Council to try it in 1891 on Court Avenue, around the Logan County Court House. He posted a bond guaranteeing the pavement would last at least five years.
Over one hundred years later, George's concrete street was still there, or at least a city block's worth (the rest had been replaced by more modern paving materials). It's now known as the "World's Oldest Concrete Street" -- signs near the courthouse and along the street cement the claim.
In 1991, they erected a statue of George Bartholemew (also the inventor of Portland Cement) in the center of the concrete street, since motor traffic is no longer permitted. So that byway may last a few more centuries....
A plaque points out: "Here started the better roads movement."
The other odd claim to fame: McKinley Street -- named for the President -- is only 15 ft. long, making it the World's Shortest Street. There's a little sign on a pole so you won't miss it.
July 2007: Frank Devlin wrote us about a new "World's Shortest Street": "Guinness Book of Records states that the worlds shortest street is in Scotland! Ebenezer Place in Wick, Caithness was measured at 6-ft. 9-in. -- yes six feet nine inches. The Guinness Book of Records entered this in Nov 2006."
