Cincinnati’s “Newest” Community

By Stephen H. Reinke
Spring Grove Village Community Council

Formerly known as Winton Place, our community has changed its name to Spring Grove Village. The decision to make this change came with much thought, consideration, and emotion.

In 2006, members of the Winton Place Community Council set forth a vision to brand our neighborhood as a safe, diverse, and harmonious community. This branding effort was instituted to accurately reflect the reality of the neighborhood and to shed the misperceptions of it so pervasive among the good people of Cincinnati.

The council also resolved to increase economic and residential interest in order to sustain the wonderful way of life our neighborhood provides. The council determined that one of the ways to accomplish this vision was through a name change.

Through a series of open public meetings, the Winton Place Community Council proposed the issue of a name change and collected feedback from community members, as well as took suggestions for alternative names. It was an emotional process, but through a run-off vote in November 2006, a final vote was taken. “Spring Grove Village” was chosen as our new name.

Our new name has historical significance and precedence: In the late 1700’s, the community was called “Spring Grove.” Sometime later, the name was changed to “Mill Creek Township Farm.” Then, in 1882, the name was again changed, this time to “Winton Place” after local tavern owner Matthew Winton. Mr. Winton, according to historical records, clashed with local law enforcement on a regular basis over the sale of illegal whiskey in his tavern on 3rd Street. Several locales of the area still bear the name “Winton.”

Returning to the name also associated with Historic Spring Grove Cemetery harkens back to the early days when our community was the “garden center“ for the City of Cincinnati. At that time, our community supplied fruit and produce to citizens all over the city.

The members of the Spring Grove Village Community Council are proud of our community, and the new name will help to increase residential and business interest in our friendly, racially and religiously diverse neighborhood. Our community offers many special features, including a low crime rate, affordable housing, and beautiful gardens. But perhaps our greatest asset is our people, who undoubtedly make Spring Grove Village “the best-kept secret in Cincinnati.”

 

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