A Brief History of Woodsdale

Archibald Woods, a Revolutionary War hero, established his farm on land given to him as a reward for his involvement in the War. He first built a farmhouse on what is now Homestead Avenue. The homestead was torn down when Peterson Rehab Hospital was built. The streets directly behind what used to be the homestead are named for his family members...Hamilton, Archibald, etc.

His daughter-in-law, Ruth often took the many children of the family to what is now known as Wood's Run Park along Bethany Pike. She was so determined to preserve this area for the children that she had a lawyer draw up a contract stating that the people of the area (specifically Park Road) were responsible for the upkeep of the park and could never erect any buildings there. Two small, arched walking bridges were built over the creek. The creek was polluted by mine runoff of iron in the 1950's and sported a bright orange color for many years.

Grandson Charles Woods owned a house on the corner of Upper Poplar and Heiskell Avenue. He kept a pony and trap in the "barn" (now the garage) and used to give children of the area rides as far as Oglebay Park.

The land along what is now Edgewood Street was owned by a Mr.Hutchinson who was the contractor for Bethany Pike. He bottled the water from his springs and sold it from a backpack that he carried.

Beginning in the 1890's the land was subdivided. The second oldest house built (after the Wood's homestead) was the Etz House on Edgewood Street. This beautiful mansion with a Queen Anne turret and a broad wraparound front porch is now obscured by modern apartments.

The streets of Woodsdale have had many name changes over the years. The neighborhood is on the list of Historic Areas because of the beauty of the many Victorian homes in the area.