Photographs of an Original Closet Doorknob at the Historic Gardner Homestead

These photographs show the detail of an original doorknob on one of the bedroom closets, located upstairs in the Historic Gardner Homestead. The homestead was purchased by the Flint Cemetery in May, 2017, with plans to rehabilitate the home. The property adjoins the cemetery, separated only by a creek and ravine. Barely visible in the lower left-hand corner of the photograph under "more views" is a section of wall where previous owners had removed paint and plaster, showing the original brick beneath.

The home’s builder, Ozem Gardner, came to central Ohio from Ostego County, New York, in 1817. He worked as brickmaker until he could save enough money to purchase 65 acres of farmland on Flint Road in 1821. He lived in a log cabin until late 1830's. The brick farmhouse was built around 1850. An active member of the Anti-Slavery Society of Worthington, Gardner operated an Underground Railroad station on his property. It has been said that he assisted more than 200 enslaved people on their journey to seek freedom in Canada. Ozem Gardner lived in this home until his death in 1880.

A notable previous resident of the home was Henry Hancock and his family, who lived there for approximately 30 years. According to an interview with his granddaughter, Hancock was the first Black sheriff’s deputy in Franklin County. He also ran a business, Funeral Police Escort, for more than 40 years.