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Village Complaint Form VILLAGE OF MORRISTOWN OFFICE OF VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR NATURE OF COMPLAINT: (Please include all details and be as explicit as possible.) FINDINGS AND ACTIONS TAKEN: Your Signature Clear Submit Thank You! GO TO TOP

Hot Air Balloon Fest images Morristown Balloon Festival 2002 GO TO TOP

THE NATIONAL ROAD The First Motor Car Over the National Road By Daisy Tolbatt Humphrey Note: The following account of the first motor car over the National Road was written by Daisy Tolbatt Humphrey. The date of this adventure and all other information is unknown. The Morristown Historic Preservation Association is pleased to share it with you. The day had arrived when the much talked of Motor Car was to make its first journey from Cambridge to Wheeling. I had long since determined to be one of the first passengers. As I arrived at the car to my surprise one of my school friends was among the passengers. Conversing with her I learned that she had started for the same destination and I was glad to know there would be one of my acquaintances to accompany me. We traveled with great speed, but having to stop at various towns detained us some, but we arrived at Morristown at noon and stopped at the Horner House and secured lodging for the night. We then decided we would go chestnut hunting the next day. During the remainder of the day we called on a number of our friends among whom was our old Superintendent. His wife answered the bell promptly and after mutual felicitations concerning unusually favorable atmospheric conditions, she answered our inquiries about the head of the house by saying that he was amusing himself with his favorite sport of training his pet coons. We then returned to the Horner House and retired for the night. Morristown was the third stagecoach stop from Wheeling, WV and travelers found lodging at the Horner House, mentioned in this account. Later renamed Wright Hotel, it is shown here circa 1920. Renamed once more as the Black Horse Inn in the early 20th century, it gained notoriety as a fine country dining facility where liveried waiters served food and drink to patrons. The Black Horse is a Morristown landmark and remains standing along the original National Road, which is now Main Street. The next morning, feeling much refreshed, about eight o’clock we started on our chestnut hunting trip. It was a lovely day and there had been just enough frost to enable us to secure the chestnuts without much difficulty. Securing quite a number, we then decided we would roam over the green fields and hills. We ascended a very steep hill and when we reached the summit, having a field glass with us, we viewed places at quite a distance. We then returned to town and decided to take the car the next morning and go on to Wheeling. Morning came and we started for our destination. We sped along at the rate of about 15 miles per hour and the fields and landscapes looked like moving pictures. In about an hour and a half, we were at the end of our journey. We then strolled out to Wheeling Park and remained until noon and came back into the city and did our shopping. Having collected our things in a convenient place, my friend insisted that I must accompany her to see a friend. We took the street car and went to her residence and remained until almost time to return to Cambridge. We started for home and found it required about three hours to make the trip. When we reached home we felt that we had acquired some knowledge as well as had a good time. I think the Motor Car is quite an improvement on our old stage coaches of many years ago. GO TO TOP

MORRISTOWN WALKING TOUR GO TO TOP

NEWS A short drive leads to trip back in time I visited one of my favorite little communities this past week. news source "The Times Leader" On Wednesday afternoon, I took an impromptu drive through Morristown. Although I was actually looking for a large group of law enforcement officers who had been called to handle an incident I knew almost nothing about at that point, I couldn’t help but notice a few changes in the village. Morristown was platted 220 years ago, and it was named for settler and innkeeper Duncan Morrison. It was established by Jonathan Zane and William Chaplin along the path of the developing National Road — the highway to the West throughout the first half of the 19th century. The presence of the road and all the traffic it carried led to growth, and hotels, stores, factories and mills grew up around it. Many of those buildings are still standing in Morristown, which is the best preserved example of a “Pike Town” in Eastern Ohio, according to morristownohio.org. In the 1850s, there were as many as 40 or 50 businesses in town, including blacksmiths, cigar factories, grocers, clothiers, Saddlers, wagonmakers and many others. Many of those buildings were abandoned in the decades that followed, as a new form of transportation — the railroad — bypassed Morristown and ran through communities to the south instead, passing from Zanesville to Barnesville and through Bethesda and Belmont on its way to Bellaire. Today, the remaining 19th century buildings in Morristown are largely occupied again, but they now serve as private homes. Of course, being from nearby Belmont myself, I know several of the people who occupy or work to preserve these historic structures. And, being a history buff, I also know that many of these buildings were built in the 1840s and ’50s. It’s amazing to see how they have stood the test of time! What’s also amazing to me is how much some of these structures have been improved. Driving along Main Street last week, I noticed some new roofs and siding, as well as equipment stationed at buildings that are being renovated. I was happy to see that all those improvements seem to be in keeping with the original appearance and historic colors of the original construction. There’s just something special about this little slice of a bygone era. No matter why I visit the village, I always appreciate its character and feel like I can see and hear the shadows of those who came there before me. So, if you have business to conduct in or around Morristown, take the time to notice just how much of the original community has been spared for posterity. Or, if you have a leisurely day to spend somewhere in the region, consider making an intentional visit. Buildings on the National Register of Historic Places are clearly marked with bits of their history on plaques near their entrances. A walking tour is also outlined on the website mentioned above. In addition to its historical significance, Morristown has a 73-acre park with ballfields, playground equipment, disc golf and more. And it is near many other attractions, such as Barkcamp State Park, Pike 40 restaurant, Valleyview Campgrounds where Blame My Roots Fest is held, and the Union Local schools campus. GO TO TOP

2024 COMMUNITY SURVEY The Village of Morristown has been invited to apply for an AMLER grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Division of Mineral Resources Management. As part of that process, we are seeking input via a Community Engagement Survey of every household in the corporation limits. 1. What is the Water Service used for at this facility? * Residential Commercial 2. Is there a Backflow Prevention Device at this facility? * Yes No 3. Is there an underground Sprinkler system at this address? * Yes No 4. If there is a sprinkler system, is the system connected to Public Water? * Yes No 5. Is there a private well on this property? Yes No 6. If there is a well, is it being used? Yes No 7. Do you have a swimming pool? Yes No 8. Do you have Boiler heat or water to air heat pump? Yes No Submit Thanks for sharing! We always strive to improve. GO TO TOP

Morristown Ohio was platted in 1802. The village was named for Duncan Morrison, a pioneer settler. A variant name was "Morris Town". A post office called Morristown has been in operation since 1807. Several blocks in downtown Morristown compose the Morristown Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Morristown Walking Tour Grant Will Help Add Black Horse Inn and Captina to National Underground Railroad Network The historic Black Horse Inn in Morristown will become home for the Underground Railroad Museum in September. by Bruce Yarnall, Barnesville Area News MORRISTOWN – Kristina Estle, volunteer manager of the Underground Railroad Museum that will move from Flushing to Morristown this fall, announces a successful grant application to research and submit Morristown’s Black Horse and the site of the free Captina African American Community to the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom sites. The Black Horse Inn is the future home of the Underground Railroad Museum while Captina is one of the earliest free African American farming communities in the state of Ohio dating to the early 1820s when the AME Church was established. The Black Horse Inn has deep ties to the underground railroad as its owner, William Swayne, in 1838, was an active conductor/agent. There was a tunnel that ran from the Black Horse Inn to the house across the street, and another tunnel that ran in the direction of I-70 to another home. The Black Horse Inn, which sat on the original National Road, was once a thriving Inn and tavern. Underground Railroad Conductor for the Captina Community of Somerset Township Alexander L. “Sandy” Harper is buried in the Captina AME Cemetery. (Ohio History Connection photo] The leader of the Captina community, Alexander L “Sandy” Harper, was an incredibly active freed Black man and agent of the Underground Railroad in Belmont County. The only tangible evidence of the once active farming community in Somerset Township, south of Barnesville, is the cemetery. The population of the community in 1850 was 125, peaking at over 200 in 1880. An official Ohio Historical Marker at the cemetery was dedicated in 2002 as part of the Ohio Bicentennial observance. The grant will cover Estle’s time and expenses to conduct the necessary research and to dedicate her time to this project to ensure that the two sites are added to the national network. Morristown 01 Morristown History Go To 02 The National Road Go To 03 Lynn-Hunkler Memorial Park Go To Morristown, Ohio AROUND MORRISTOWN 04 05 06 07 Village of Morristown Go To Preserving the Black Horse Inn Go To Preservation Association Go To Nearby Attractions Go To This website courtesy of the Morristown Historic Preservation Association Winner of the Ohio Historical Society’s Public Education and Awareness Award 1991 and 2003 Initial funding for this website provided by a grant from the Belmont County Tourism Council GO TO TOP

PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION The Morristown Historic Preservation Association was founded March 7, 1984 as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. The Morristown Historic Preservation Association was recognized with a Public Education and Awareness Award from the Ohio Historical Society (now Ohio History Connection) in 1991 and again in 2003. MHPA also received a 2013 Milestone Award from the Ohio National Road Association for its efforts to acquire and restore the Black Horse Inn, one of the last remaining National Road inns and taverns. For more information, email john.rataiczak@gmail.com or pamlico1@gmail.com MHPA MISSION STATEMENT To encourage restoration and improvement of the Village of Morristown as a National Historic District by disseminating information portraying early life in the Village and by aiding in the implementation of a district preservation plan. To foster the cooperation of public agencies and private industries to assist in the historic preservation work. To advance public education and interest in historic architecture and historic events as they relate to the district. To solicit, collect, receive, acquire, hold, and invest monies and property, real and personal, including grants, gifts, bequests, contributions, and otherwise; and to use these funds for purposes of the Association. To do all such other acts as are necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purposes of the Association; and to have all the powers and authority conferred upon non-profit corporations in the State of Ohio. "A spot of local history is like an inn upon a highway; it is a stage upon a far journey; it is a place the national history has passed through. There mankind has stopped and lodged by the way. Local history is thus less than national history only as the part is less than the whole. Local history is subordinate to national history only in the sense in which each leaf of a book is subordinate to the volume itself." -Woodrow Wilson GO TO TOP

Garden Tour 2002 images GO TO TOP

2024 COMMUNITY SURVEY The Village of Morristown has been invited to apply for an AMLER grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Division of Mineral Resources Management. As part of that process, we are seeking input via a Community Engagement Survey of every household in the corporation limits. 1. How often do you visit the Lynn Hunkler Memorial Park? Please circle one. * a. Daily b. Weekly c. Monthly d. Sometimes e. Rarely or not at all 2. Would you be more inclined to visit the Park if accessible restroom facilities and water were available? * a. Yes b. No c. Maybe 3. How important is it to you that Morristown streets are improved with new pavement? * a. Very Important b. Important c. Neutral d. Not Important 4. How satisfied are you with the overall quality of the street in your neighborhood? * a. Very Satisfied b. Satisfied c. Neutral d. Unsatisfied 5. Rank the importance of these infrastructure projects with 1 - Most Important and 4 - Least Important: Restroom facilities at the Lynn Hunkler Memorial Park Street Paving Utilities (water, sewer, electricity) at Lynn Hunkler Memorial Park Storm Sewer Replacement/Repair Submit Thanks for sharing! We always strive to improve. GO TO TOP

Morristown has been on the National Register of Historic Places for over 30 years and been recognized many times as one of the best preserved examples of a National Road community, yet the latest recognition may bring it to the attention of its largest audience yet. NEWS News source The Times Leader $3.9 million awarded to Underground Railroad Museum Read more.. MORRISTOWN — The Underground Railroad Museum has received $3.9 million from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s Appalachian Community Grant Program. The program is part of a $154 million investment in Appalachian downtowns and destinations. The Underground Railroad Museum, while currently located at 121 E High St. in Flushing, is set to move to the historic Black Horse Inn in Morristown. The inn, built in 1807, is one of the last remaining inns and taverns on Old National Road. It is believed to have also been a stop on the Underground Railroad. NEW BANNERS ADORN MAIN STREET Main Street in Morristown is now adorned with full-color banners depicting the village's place in history "on the road." Beautiful and educational, the series of banners shows the evolution of transportation corridors through the village - from a wilderness path known as Zane's Trace to the National Road and US Route 40. The banner project was spearheaded by the Morristown Historic Preservation Association (MHPA) and funded by a grant from the Belmont County Tourism Council. MHPA came up with the banner concept and worked withTiffany Schmidt of SilverLake Graphics in Barnesville to create the design. Ed Tacosik and the LogoTek Team in Bethesda printed and installed the large, vinyl banners. The "on the road" theme was chosen because Morristown is an original Pike town and all the highways are still visible in Morristown. The National Road was the nation's first federally-funded highway, built between 1811 and 1834, and Morristown is one of the best preserved examples of a National Road community. The road became part of US 40 as a coast-to-coast highway in 1926. MHPA extends its appreciation to Ohio History Connection for use of the Zane's Trace image and to AEP for granting permission for the banners to be placed on its electric poles. A short drive leads to trip back in time I visited one of my favorite little communities this past week. news source "The Times Leader" On Wednesday afternoon, I took an impromptu drive through Morristown. Although I was actually looking for a large group of law enforcement officers who had been called to handle an incident I knew almost nothing about at that point, I couldn’t help but notice a few changes in the village. Morristown was platted 220 years ago, and it was named for settler and innkeeper Duncan Morrison. It was established by Jonathan Zane and William Chaplin along the path of the developing National Road — the highway to the West throughout the first half of the 19th century. Read More.. Morristown Featured in Old House Journal Magazine Morristown has been on the National Register of Historic Places for over 30 years and been recognized many times as one of the best preserved examples of a National Road community, yet the latest recognition may bring it to the attention of its largest audience yet. Morristown is a featured community in the December 2016 issue of Old House Journal, a national publication with an audience of 3.6 million readers that is considered the preeminent restoration source by homeowners and design professionals. Read More.. The Times Leader December 4, 2013 Group receives ONRA Award MORRISTOWN Efforts to preserve a storied piece of local history have earned recognition on the state level for a local non-profit group. The Morristown Historic Preservation Association received the 2013 Milestone Historic Preservation Award from the Ohio National Road Association (ONRA) for mounting a successful effort to purchase and restore the Black Horse Inn, one of the last remaining National Road inns and taverns. The Milestone Award was presented at the ONRA Annual Meeting which was held at the Florentine Restaurant in Columbus on Nov. 22. Read More.. GO TO TOP

NEWS Morristown Featured in Old House Journal Magazine Morristown has been on the National Register of Historic Places for over 30 years and been recognized many times as one of the best preserved examples of a National Road community, yet the latest recognition may bring it to the attention of its largest audience yet. Morristown is a featured community in the December 2016 issue of Old House Journal, a national publication with an audience of 3.6 million readers that is considered the preeminent restoration source by homeowners and design professionals. The two-page, full color spread, which hits newsstands on November 1st, includes photos of six 19th century homes and the Black Horse Inn as well as a brief history of the village. Morristown Mayor Heather Stitt said she was elated to learn that the magazine had plans to feature Morristown. “Morristown is truly a link to the past,” Mayor Stitt said. “The future of Morristown looks bright and this is just the first step to show what our little village has to offer.” Morristown came to the attention of Old House Journal via Carolyn Bates, a nationally-recognized photographer from Vermont. Bates was making plans to photograph a cabin owned by the Dutton family near Flushing and asked Greg Dutton if there were any historic homes that she could visit. He connected her with John Rataiczak, Morristown homeowner and president of the Morristown Historic Preservation Association. "I was thrilled to learn of this interest as we have always felt that what we have here in Morristown is special and worthy of national recognition and attention," Rataiczak said. In May, John began sending Bates pictures of every home built in Morristown between 1800 and 1899. After months of emails and photos, Carolyn had what she needed to pitch the idea of a Morristown feature to the editors of Old House Journal. They reviewed the photos and agreed to send Carolyn to photograph the village for a regular feature in the magazine called “My Neighborhood.” Carolyn arrived in Morristown the third week in July. “I felt like I had stepped way back in time,” Carolyn remarked about her first impression of the small village. She stayed in the Brooks House, a guest of owner Troy Biery. She was the guest of honor at a dinner hosted by several homeowners on July 22. She spent the next several days walking around the community, taking photos and talking with residents. “I felt so welcome,” Carolyn said. “Within an hour I felt like I was with my family.” “It was a pleasure to share our community, our friendship, food and conversation with someone who appreciated all that makes Morristown a special place to live,” said Melissa Rataiczak. “Carolyn gave us another reason to come together for fellowship and laughter, a hallmark of living in this awesome village,” she added. Morristown has offered other opportunities for visitors, like Christmas Home Tours and National Pike Festivals. Morristown was also a stop on the 2016 Rubberneck Tour. Next up is the Fifth Annual Turkey Trot, a Thanksgiving morning tradition in Morristown. All are welcome to participate in this fun 5K Run/Walk. “This is another opportunity for neighbors, family and friends to come together and create more Morristown memories,” Rataiczak said. Mayor Stitt hopes this recognition generates interest and enthusiasm for preserving old homes and buildings. So does newest resident, Gabe Hays, who purchased one of Morristown’s historic homes last year. “What I hope this will mean to Morristown is a continuum of stewardship awareness for this nationally-significant American historic place,” Hays said. “I pray that this will inspire others to invest in any of the current structures needing love.” GO TO TOP