Ohio's first lesbian bar, Summit Station, to receive historical recognition in Columbus

Arianna Smith, The Columbus Dispatch
·3 min read
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Summit Station, now known as Summit Music Hall, is set to receive a historical marker from the Ohio History Connection. Summit Station is the first establishment to receive a historical marker driven by the LGBTQ+ community in central Ohio, and the third in the state.

One of the first lesbian-friendly establishments in Ohio will have its historic significance officially recognized this weekend in Columbus.

Ohio's first and longest-running lesbian bar, Summit Station, is receiving statewide recognition this weekend when a historical marker is unveiled at the site of the former pub. LuSter P. Singleton, left, and Julia Applegate, right, led the movement to obtain the marker.
Ohio's first and longest-running lesbian bar, Summit Station, is receiving statewide recognition this weekend when a historical marker is unveiled at the site of the former pub. LuSter P. Singleton, left, and Julia Applegate, right, led the movement to obtain the marker.

Summit Station was a neighborhood bar that had many names including Logan's off Broadway and Jack's-A-Go-Go, until Petie Brown took over in 1980. The bar was known to be a place where lesbian customers could enjoy themselves without fear, but the bar wasn't clearly labeled a lesbian bar until Brown took over the establishment, Julia Applegate, former patron of Summit Station, said.

Central Ohio's first historically recognized lesbian bar will have its official unveiling and dedication event this weekend in Columbus.

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Brown worked at the bar when it was Jack's-A-Go-Go. She was looking to make extra money apart from her work as a musician.

Proprietor Petie Brown sits on the roof of Summit Station (now Summit Music Hall at 2210 Summit St.), which operated from 1970 to 2008, making it Ohio's longest-running lesbian bar.
Proprietor Petie Brown sits on the roof of Summit Station (now Summit Music Hall at 2210 Summit St.), which operated from 1970 to 2008, making it Ohio's longest-running lesbian bar.

"It functioned as a safer space for the lesbian community for nearly four decades, from 1970 until 2008," Applegate said.

In 1980, Clida and Don Logan officially handed the business over to Brown and that is when the bar officially became Summit Station, which had been operated by Brown until 2008, Applegate said.

Anyone or any group that wants to identify a place as historically significant can petition the state historical society through the Historical Markers Program. The application goes through a review process where the historical center will determine if whether or not the place in question holds historical significance, Applegate said.

Applegate said that if after the review process, the establishment or place is deemed a historical marker, then "it's an important part of Ohio history."

The dedication event Saturday will include the unveiling of the historical marker along with live music, food trucks and guest speakers, beginning at 1 p.m. and lasting until 2 a.m., after the formal dedication concludes, said LuSter P Singleton, fellow orchestrator of the event.

Ohio's first and longest-running lesbian bar, Summit Station, is receiving statewide recognition this weekend when a historical marker is unveiled at the site of the former pub. LuSter P. Singleton, left, was part of the movement to obtain the marker.
Ohio's first and longest-running lesbian bar, Summit Station, is receiving statewide recognition this weekend when a historical marker is unveiled at the site of the former pub. LuSter P. Singleton, left, was part of the movement to obtain the marker.

The event begins with a blessing of the land with the dedication at 1:45 and the entertainment will begin around 2:30 p.m. At 5 p.m. everyone will move inside to enjoy the rest of the performances of the evening, including a queer drag show happening at 10 p.m., Singleton said.

"I always call it a queer drag show because there's a little bit of everybody," Singleton said. "There are kings, queens and all the in-between."

Individuals from the Ohio Historical Society, Friends of Summit committee, representatives from the city neighborhood and the University District Neighborhood Association will be in attendance of the dedication event, Singleton said.

The event website is where people who are interested can register to attend the event, located at 2210 Summit St. Scheduled performers include The Puppet Queers, Cindy Wolfe O'Brien, Alexis Antes, Dalyrical, and many more.

aesmith@gannett.com

@arismith02

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Why Summit Station received a historical marker and its significance.