Flytown

Flytown is a neighborhood just northwest of downtown Columbus encompassing portions of the present-day Arena District and western sections of the Victorian Village. In the 19th century, it was considered the center of the Irish-American community in the city after the arrival of immigrants fleeing the Great Famine, and Naghten Street, now Nationwide Boulevard, was nicknamed the "Irish Broadway."

Flytown began to spring up in the mid-19th century, when primarily Irish, German, and Welsh immigrants settled in the area to labor in nearby factories. The neighborhood comprised a 25-block area west of Neil Avenue, east of the Olentangy River, and south to a nearby industrial district along the Scioto River. The name "Flytown" resulted from homes which "flew up over night."

As the immigrants moved in, the neighborhood became distinctive. West Goodale Street became its primary artery as commercial establishments took root to cater to the inhabitants, including saloons and shops, and boarding houses sprang up to house the laborers. Naghten Street, now Nationwide Boulevard, became known as the "Irish Broadway" being the center of the Irish-American community in the city. Industrial firms located in the area included Columbus Forge and Iron, Columbus Coop Foundry, the Simplex Foundry, Columbus Coffin Company, Capital City Products, and the Dresser-Ideco Company.

The immigrants went on to become domestic workers, civil servants, small businessman, police and fire officers, and became present in the political class, as well as the legal, medical, and education communities.

Born to Irish immigrants north of Columbus in 1853, Jeremiah O'Shaughnessy began working at age 17 digging the foundation of what would become the city water works, located just west of Flytown. Working his way up to engineer, he eventually became superintendent of the Columbus City Water Works, dedicating much of his life to the city's water system. He would collaborate with the construction of the Columbus Experiment, at the time a revolutionary environmental project and one of the largest water plants built in the United States. In 1913, he pushed a storage dam project, which when completed in 1925, was considered the "best inland city reservoir and dam in the United States." It was named O'Shaughnessy Dam in his honor.

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