Hardin County History - Dola

From the time of settlement in 1852 to 1907, the community of Dola in Washington Township was known then as North Washington. The reason for the requested change in name by the U.S. Postal service was of an existing confusion between mailings of North Washington in Hardin County and New Washington in Crawford County. Many times mailings were just addressed "N. Washington, Ohio" and confusion resulted.
Citizens of North Washington petitioned the Post Office for permission to change the name of the town. Dr. Richard Clevenger's wife, Anna Roberts Clevenger, who had emigrated from Wales suggested the name "Dola" since the lush green marshlands in Washington Township reminded her of the green meadows of her native Wales. The citizens liked the name Dola since it was short and pleasant in sound. As a Welch word, Dola means meadow or low lying area according to the University of Wales. At Cardiff, Wales is Dolan, referred to as "Dola" by its area citizens. Many Polish people are interested in having postmarks from Dola as they think Dola is a Polish name which in Polish means bad luck or hard luck, especially that of a farmer.

Cold dock and plant for watering engines located in the western part of Dola, Ohio
It was on this stretch of track that the Penn Limited set the speed record of 127 MPH in 1905.

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