HISTORICALLY SPEAKING December 2010 the Newsletter of the Pioneer & Historical Society of Muskingum County
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HISTORICALLY SPEAKING December 2010 The Newsletter of the Pioneer & Historical Society of Muskingum County One category of donations is for OPERATING MUSEUMS OF THE PIONEER & FUNDS. These donations will be added to the HISTORICAL SOCIETY general fund and will be used for the most OF basic of expenses: paying the everyday bills. As we have noted in previous newsletters, MUSKINGUM COUNTY expenses are going up at the same time The Stone Academy income is decreasing. State and city 115 Jefferson Street governments are cutting expenses to make Zanesville, Ohio ends meet requiring local institutions to look Closed for the winter, will reopen in to local citizens and out-of-town friends to April maintain viability. The other category is for the MATHEWS Dr. Increase Mathews House HOUSE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. In his report in this 304 Woodlawn Avenue newsletter, Director Jim Geyer has described the work that needs to be done Closed during the fall and winter, will on the Dr. Increase Mathews House reopen in June Museum. The extent of the work needed is far more than can be afforded by the To schedule a tour during the winter Society, even with the help of our please contact us through our website. supporters. Jim has been busy pursuing grants from several private and public The Historical Society office is agencies but most of them require located at the Stone Academy matching funds from the organization receiving the grants. The money you give 740 454-9500 will make up the Society’s matching funds and it also shows the grantor that there is www.muskingumhistory.org local support for the project. With many organizations competing for few grants it is Visit us on Facebook important that we demonstrate that we have the backing of the community we TIME TO RENEW YOUR P&HS serve. MEMBERSHIP As Jim notes in his report, we plan to Historical Society membership renewal take two years to do all the improvements notices were mailed out in November. You needed. Since we are spacing out the work, will notice an addition to the renewal card we give you the option of spacing out your we have been using for several years - a giving. Making an informal commitment to space for your email address. We promise the amount you plan to give over two years we will not overburden you with emails and will help us in planning how much work we we will not sell your address to former will be able to do. How you want to divide cabinet members of the Nigerian your donation is up to you. government but we hope to be able to If you have any questions about the send you timely notices of events that will be Mathews House Project contact any of interest to you. member of the Board of Trustees. The In addition to your membership renewal Historical Society office is closed for the card, you received a card that can assist winter but you may still contact the Director you in donating to the Historical Society. through our website, Muskingumhistory.org. PRESIDENT’S REPORT O L I O Happy Holidays! We hope that The number of friends of the Society who everyone can enjoy the Holiday Season and have honored us as the recipients of Kroger the warmth and friendship it offers. It has Plus Shoppers Card rewards has tripled. If been a really good year for the Pioneer and you want to give financial help to the Historical Society of Muskingum County. We Society at no cost to you, link your rewards had a successful Zanesville 1810 Project. The card to the Society by using our account Bicentennial of Zanesville as the State number 80971. Capital of Ohio was celebrated on July 4 and was well attended. The historical Remember that you can find us on marker commemorating that event will be a Facebook. Search for us under PIONEER AND presence outside the County Court House HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY. for many years to come as a result of the Putting “The” in front of our name takes you generosity of Kim Mudgett, of Mudgetts to a site not controlled by us. Monuments, one of our members. The self- guided tour of Zanesville in 1810 had several We are the historical society for the whole thousand copies passed out and we had county but since our two museums are in some good feedback from it. The Friend’s the Putnam Historic District, we have a Ice Cream Social with live music on July 3 special affinity for that area. We welcome went very well, also. The lecture part of the two new businesses to the Historic District, 1810 Project series has been well attended. John Starner’s Jack Havanas on Hazlett Court As always, finances have been a major and Beth Hayes’ In Good Taste Bakery at the concern. As a result we were forced to corner of Jefferson Street and Putnam close the Museums to drop-in visitors during Avenue. At the time of this writing Jack the winter months. They are still open by Havanas is scheduled to open on visiting our website or calling the office for December 19 and work is being done on an appointment. We have plans to make the building that will house the bakery. some badly needed repairs at the Mathews Anyone who sees the Museum Director House. We have acquired some bids for consuming too many of the bakery’s wares window and door replacement for the is urged to alert his wife. oldest structure in Zanesville. The last time the windows were replaced was 1932. The In October the Director and Curator slate roof needs some work and the exterior attended a meeting in Wheeling, West needs repainting and staining. The boiler Virginia, sponsored by the Rivers Institute of needs replacing. This building has been Hanover College, which gave preliminary under our control for more than 40 years information on the celebration of the 200th and now is in need of repairs. Historical anniversary of steamboat navigation on the buildings are always expensive to repair and Ohio River in 2011. With the Muskingum maintain since the historical integrity of the being a major tributary of the Ohio there building must be maintained. Everything may be possibilities for an observance of has to be custom made because nothing is that anniversary here. standard in measurement and it is difficult to find craftsmen willing to work on it. You will hear much more about this program in the future. Bob Jenkins 2 DIRECTOR’S REPORT activity on the Muskingum River and December 2010 the 150th anniversary of the Civil War are being planned. This has been another busy year for the · Volunteer recruitment will be a Society. I want to thank our members and priority. Look for information about benefactors for your support and volunteer opportunities in our March encouragement. I also want to share some newsletter. thoughts about our recent past and some · One of our main concerns will be things to look forward to in the coming year. finding a way to extend operating Looking back at 2010 … hours and programming at the · At the final installment of the Mathews House. Zanesville 1810 Project Lecture Series · The Putnam Timeline exhibit at the on Saturday I was reminded of all Stone Academy will be available in the individuals and organizations booklet format. that participated in remembering · Mathews House improvements are Zanesville’s days as Ohio’s second planned. I have included a more capital. It was truly a team effort. We detailed description of the work were honored to partner with the recommended by architect Pat John McIntire Library, Ohio University- Kelly. Zanesville, the Zanesville Memorial Concert Band, the Muskingum MATHEWS HOUSE PROJECT DESCRIPTION County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, the Ohio The Trustees asked architect Pat Kelly to Humanities Council, the Taylor- prepare a list of improvements that address McHenry Foundation, and the various issues at the Mathews House that Friends of P&HS to provide this could be implemented in phases over a important local history programming period of time, as funding becomes for the community. available. Completing all aspects of the · A special “Thank You!” to Mudgett’s proposal, as presented, may not be Monuments for donating the new possible. However, it is our strong belief that memorial recognizing the site of further delay in making necessary repairs Zanesville’s statehouse. puts the structure and the valuable artifacts · Improvements to our website, it houses at risk. Our intent is, over the next www.muskingumhistory.org, include two years, to address the most serious issues a page that allows visitors to read at the Mathews House in the most cost- our newsletter on-line and a series of effective way possible while maintaining the links to other history related sites. historical integrity of the building. · More than 3200 people participated Mr. Kelly prepared the following 5- in P&HS sponsored events and phase project: activities. PHASE ONE: · The November 2010 edition of Ohio Window Replacement: Remove existing Magazine acknowledged the windows and trim, install new custom made Historical Society’s role in making historic appearance, high efficiency Zanesville one of Ohio’s best windows that match existing styles using Low hometowns. E insulated glass with argon gas, applied Looking ahead to 2011 … muntins, bronze hardware, with new · Our outreach program, The History painted exterior and interior trim to match Has Left the Museum, will continue in existing conditions. 2011. Off-site presentations about Exterior Door Replacement: Remove existing our early history will again be exterior doors and trim, install new custom available to school and community made outswing historic appearance doors, groups.