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NEWS 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. In announcing the award, ONRA board member and past president Cyndie Gerken said, “This year’s winner has gone well beyond advocating (to preserve historic buildings) by demonstrating both an appreciation for the potential of what lies beneath the surface, and the ambition to take on the project.” “We are honored by this award and thank ONRA for recognizing us for this effort,” said John Rataiczak, president of MHPA. “This gives us confidence that we have embarked upon a project that is noteworthy on both a local and state level.” MHPA began raising funds after the inn’s former owners graciously reduced the selling price to the non-profit earlier this year. A grant from the Belmont County Tourism Council then made it possible for MHPA to purchase the Black Horse in August. The Black Horse Inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and its original frame portion was built in 1807. The Black Horse gained notoriety as the third stagecoach stop from Wheeling during the heyday of the National Road and continues to hold the interest of National Road travelers in the 21st century. This is not the first time the Morristown group has been recognized. The Ohio Historical Society bestowed Public Education and Awareness Awards to the group in 1991 and 2003. The National Road, initiated in 1806, was America’s first interstate highway, paving the way for settlement of the west. It ranks as one of our nation’s most unique roadways, designated as both a National Scenic Byway and an All-American Road by the Federal Highway Department in 2002. For more information, go to ONRA’s web site www.ohionationalroad.org . To learn more about Morristown, log on to www.morristownohio.org ONRA representatives Denna Johnson, Cyndie Gerken, and Doug Smith, and Pamela and Tom McCort, accepting the Milestone Award on behalf of the Morristown Preservation Association. Photo courtesy Ohio National Road Association. GO TO TOP

MORRISTOWN HISTORY The Village of Morristown was platted by Jonathan Zane and William Chapline in 1802 and named for an early settler and innkeeper, Duncan Morrison. The National Road, the major overland route to the West in the second quarter of the nineteenth century was the crucial factor in Morristown's development. It was built through the village around 1826 and changed the village's main thoroughfare from the "Wheeling Road" (later renamed Church Street) to Main Street. Many businesses, including hotels, factories, mills and shops grew from the traffic generated by the nation's first federally funded highway. While many towns flourished in response to the trade along the National Road, Morristown is the best preserved example of a "Pike Town" in Eastern Ohio. In 1853, when Morristown was at its peak, it supported forty to fifty businesses, all of which were dependent on or served the National Road in some capacity. There were many blacksmiths, saddlers, wagonmakers, grocers, clothiers and hotels. There was a cigar factory (located in the old Bank Building), glove factory and a woolen mill. Although many of the buildings which housed these businesses survive today, they do so as private residences. It was transportation that caused. Morristown's growth, and it would be a "new" form of transportation, the train, that would cause the village to decline. The railroad bypassed Morristown in the 1850's, passing to the south through Barnesville, Ohio instead. Interest in the village waned, along with commerce, and today no businesses survive in the village proper. With their businesses gone, many buildings stood empty and were "preserved through neglect". Morristown was added to the National Register of Historic Places when the Morristown Historic District was established in 1980. 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

Wagon Train, Turkey Trot, Rubberneck Tour, Veterans Honored at CommUNITY Day and More.. PAST EVENTS 2018 National Pike Wagon Train Go To Thanksgiving Morning 5k Turkey Trot 2016 Rubberneck Tour Go To 2012 Christmas Tour Go To ~Holiday Tour of Homes~ Photo Gallery by Bill Ivoska on flickr ((Click Here)) 2006 National Road Bicentennial Go To 2002 Morristown Balloon Festival Go To Veterans Honored at CommUNITY Day Go To 2002 Garden Tour Go To GO TO TOP

LYNN-HUNKLER MEMORIAL PARK ODNR Grant Helps Fund Playground Connor Mudrak, 4, paused from playing to have his picture taken on new playground equipment that was recently installed at the Lynn-Hunkler Memorial Park in Morristown. Connor, the son of Misty and Louie Mudrak, is pictured with Park Commission members, from left: Josh Nagy, Beth Robb (treasurer), Vicki Burghy and Don Hearn. The Morristown Park Commission received a $53,682 NatureWorks grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources that helped fund the first phase of a three-phase playground project. The connected playground pieces, safety surface and accessible walkway were installed in July and August. The commission continues to pursue funding sources to complete the next two phases. The Lynn-Hunkler Memorial Park was developed on 76 acres of land donated to the village of Morristown by the Betty Hunkler Modie Family. It features five baseball fields, a disc golf course, basketball court and picnic shelters. The Park Commission oversees maintenance and operations of the park. The Lynn-Hunkler Memorial Park is a Morristown treasure, situated on 76 acres of land at the east end of the village. The acreage was donated for a park by Betty Hunkler Modie and family. This generous gift propelled a “field of dreams” into reality for Morristown area children and adults in 2010. The park features five baseball diamonds and dugouts; a basketball court, two picnic shelters, playground equipment and a disc golf course. It is a busy place in the spring and summer, hosting ball games, reunions, and special events. A walking trail and beautiful landscape make it a popular place for people who like to spend time in nature. The park is maintained and managed by the Morristown Park Commission, whose members are Vicki Burghy, Josh Nagy and Don Hearn. For information about the Lynn-Hunkler Memorial Park, email vburghy@gmail.com or call the village offices at 740-782-1551. THE TIMES LEADER April 18, 2015 Ohio Valley Unsung Hero: Burghy Well-Known in Morristown Area MORRISTOWN – Anyone who knows Randy Burghy knows he does a lot for the youth of the Morristown area in the baseball realm. But, he isn’t alone. And he’d be the first person to tell you that. In fact, in discussing what he does at Lynn-Hunker Park and the baseball diamond at Union Local High School, Burghy uses the word ‘we’ quite a bit. Burghy is pretty humble about his endeavors. But the truth is, both facilities wouldn’t be in the shape they are without his help. ”What I like more about doing it than anything is when I was growing up I didn’t have a place to play,” said Burghy, a Morristown native. ”Now, I have an opportunity to help the kids, you know, now have a better place to play. ”I think people should pride themselves in the places we have here.” Burghy certainly does. ”I’m kind of the maintenance guy,” he noted. ”I check swing sets. I put the teeter-totters up. Anything you look at out there I’ve probably had my hands on it.” And that’s in reference to both Lynn-Hunkler and the baseball field at Union Local. Even though he has three children of his own, Burghy treats both ‘Fields of Dreams’ like they were his own. ”I just kind of do what needs to be done,” he said humbly. ”Well, actually, I probably mow a little bit every week. What we try to do is get the coaches to take care of their own fields. There are five fields at Lynn-Hunkler, which has been in existence about seven years and has seen tremendous growth since its inception. ”I take care of stuff around it if they need help. I take my own tractor out with the tiller and till and do the things that need done. ”It’s just things that you do, things that you do to help.” A 1970 graduate of UL, Burghy served as head baseball coach for the Jets for one season – 1993. Back then, the field there was the only one locally for teams in that vicinity to play at. Therefore, it required a lot of uptake. Burghy helped when he could, but because of his job in the coal mining industry, the time he had available was limited. These days, now that he’s retired, he has more time to devote. ”I just volunteer my time to help, that’s all,” he said. ”Nothing out of the ordinary.” Randy’s son, also Randy, played baseball at Union Local. Now, a third generation is wearing the Red and White – Randy’s grandson, Lucas Robb. Burghy said he spent some time prior to the high school season helping get the UL field spruced up. It’s a source of pride for him. ”It makes the school looks good,” he said. ”It’s good for everyone, really. ”I said if they needed help, I’d help. Over the years, I’ve some stuff out there.” Such as mowing and the like. Most of Burghy’s time is spent at Lynn-Hunkler, where there’s more work to be done, and where Burghy’s daughter, Vicky, helps manage the facility. ”When the park opened, there wasn’t much there,” he recalled. ”Little by little, things are coming together.” The last few years, some of the Lynn-Hunkler fields were used for the Edgar Martin Beast of the East Classic. Local Little League teams also utilize the park. ”We’re trying to finish up the loose ends out there now,” he said. ”Hopefully, we’ll be able to maintain it.” If you know of someone involved in sports in the Ohio Valley whom I could feature as an Ohio Valley Unsung Hero, drop me a line at rthorp@timesleaderonline.com or via Twitter at RickThorp1 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

Cruise In to Morristown on the Rubberneck Tour It will be all about the 20th century at the Rubberneck Tour stop in Historic Morristown and dressing the part are these three, pictured in front of a 1956 Chevy. From left, Emily Barker of Centerville, rocking a 1950s look, Taylore Frasnelly of Morristown, in classic ‘40s style, and Sarah Scott of Belmont in a Woodstock-inspired outfit from the‘60s. This car and others will be on display when the Egypt Valley Car Club hosts a car show on Main Street from noon until 4 p.m. Sunday, October 9th 2016. CRUISE IN TO MORRISTOWN The sights, sounds and tastes of Old Route 40 in the 20th century will be celebrated in the 19th century village of Morristown during the 2016 Rubberneck Tour. Cruise In to see what’s new… and what’s old is what visitors are invited to do on Sunday, October 9th between noon and 6 p.m. Activities are meant to showcase Morristown’s history along Route 40 in the mid-20th century.Featured will be a car show along the Main Street between the Black Horse Inn and old Bank building from 12 noon until 4 p.m. Coordinated by the Egypt Valley Car Club, owners of vehicles from the 40s, 50s and 60s are invited to this fun show. There is no registration fee and popular vote will determine the winner in those three categories. A DJ will spin records from the gazebo park. Elby’s Drive-In Restaurant was a popular stop in Morristown for years and a version of the Big Boy hamburger and the famous Hot Fudge Cake will be served. A display of Big Boy memorabilia in the Black Horse Inn is sure to spark memories and stories. The items are on loan from Matt VanFossen’s collection. Visitors will be able to tour one of Morristown’s historic homes, the Brooks House, a brick colonial built in 1838. Activities at this Rubberneck Tour stop are made possible by a grant from the Belmont County Tourism Council. images GO TO TOP

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS LINKS Belmont County Tourism Council http://www.belmontcountytourism.info/ Belmont County Government www.belmontcountyohio.org Union Local School District http://www.ulschools.com/ Belmont College Building Preservation Technology Program www.belmontcollege.edu Belmont County Chapter of Ohio Genealogy Society http://www.belmontccogs.org/ The Times Leader www.timesleaderonline.com Historic National Road in Ohio www.ohionationalroad.org Ohio History Connection www.ohiohistory.org NEARBY ATTRACTIONS Barkcamp State Park parks.ohiodnr.gov/barkcamp The Vestry, 211 Church Street, Morristown, OH Facebook page MORRISTOWN AREA RESTAURANTS DiCarlo’s Pizza www.dicarlospizza.com Schlepp’s Family Restaurant www.facebook.com/Schlepps-Family-Restaurant Quiznos www.quiznos.com Chapz Bar & Grill The Pike 40 www.pike40.com Subway (located in Pilot Travel Center) Morristown Hotels/Motels Days Inn & Suites www.daysinn.com/hotels/ohio/belmont/days-inn-and-suites-belmont/hotel-overview Sleep Inn & Suites www.choicehotels.com/sleep-inn MORRISTOWN GAS STATIONS EXXON Gas Station and 208 Fuel Plaza 66682 Belmont-Morristown Road Belmont, OH 43718 740-782-1601 www.exxonmobilstations.com/1366571-208-fuel-plaza-belmont MARATHON Gas 66440 Belmont-Morristown Road Belmont, OH 43718 740-782-1239 PILOT TRAVEL CENTER pilotflyingj.com GO TO TOP

Christmas Tour 2012 images GO TO TOP

VILLAGE OF MORRISTOWN or Morristown Historic Preservation Association CONTACT US CONTACT & LOCATION Submit Thanks for submitting! VILLAGE OF MORRISTOWN 201 W. Cross Street P.O. Box 241 Morristown, OH 43759 Phone: 740-782-1551 Fax: 740-782-1820 Morristown Historic Preservation Association P.O. Box 102, Morristown, OH 43759 Slideshow 1 of 10 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

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