Aug 21, 2025 - History

Ask Axios: Who were Hayden and Bricker?

Alissa Widman Neese

Illustration of a cardinal sitting on a branch with a word balloon with a question mark in it coming out of its mouth. — Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

Reader Tony F. asks: Who is Hayden, whose name is used on streets and subdivisions around Dublin and Hilliard?

And reader Dave Bricker fittingly asks: My daughter pointed out that the Ohio State Fair had a building named after Bricker. Do you know the history of it?

What we found: Hayden Run is named for early settler Jacob Hayden, per a 1944 article on local name origins by folklore scholar W. Edson Richmond.

The Bricker Building's namesake is more well-known: former Ohio Gov. John W. Bricker (1939-1945). Constructed in 1966, it was renamed for him in 1977.

Catch up quick: The Republican also served as attorney general (1933-37), a U.S. senator (1947-59), and a trustee for Ohio State, his alma mater (1948-1969).

In 1944, he was the vice presidential nominee on the ticket with New York Gov. Thomas Dewey.
Bricker founded a local legal practice known today as Bricker Graydon. He died in 1986.

Fun fact: OSU's Bricker Hall and downtown's Bricker Federal Building are also named for him.

🙏 Thanks to the Ohio History Connection for helping us find these answers!

📬 What are you curious about? Reply to this newsletter with your burning questions.

Add Axios on Google

Ask Axios: Who were Hayden and Bricker?

More Columbus stories