Spring 2015 - Ohio National Road Association

Ohio National Road Association
®
Spring 2015
Byway Coordinators: Gerald Newton and Chris Harkness
20 South Second Street Newark, Ohio 43055
Phone: 740-670-5200 Email: [email protected]
WWW.OHIONATIONALROAD.ORG
ONRA Members and Friends,
Board of Trustees
Board Officers
President:
Mary Ellen Weingartner—Muskingum Co.
Vice President:
Elizabeth Reeb—Muskingum Co.
Treasurer:
Marian Vance—At Large
Secretary:
Nancy Campbell—Guernsey Co.
County Members
Dr. John Mattox—Belmont Co.
John Marshalll—Belmont Co.
Bill Smith—Clark Co.
Don Wallace—Clark Co.
Michael Peppe—Franklin Co.
Ed Wagstaff—Guernsey Co.
Larry Bicking—Licking Co.
Bill Lozier—Licking Co.
Kelso Wessel—Madison Co.
John Kile—Madison Co.
Paul Seibel—Montgomery Co.
Paul Gruner—Montgomery Co.
Jeff Sewert—Preble Co.
Chris Day—Preble Co.
Members At Large
Doug Smith
Alan King
Sylvia Miller
Walter Mast
Ex Officio Members
Jonathan Beard—Columbus Compact Corp
Pat Henahan—Ohio Arts Council
Frank Quinn—Heritage Ohio
Judy Williams—Preservation Consultant
Tom Barrett—ODOT
After another never-ending winter it is a welcome change to see spring buds, blooms and green leaves
arriving with warmth in the air. The change of seasons is always an anticipated greeting of new growth!
Our ONRA Board has undergone changes as we begin 2015. Thanks and appreciation go to those who
have served and have moved along for various reasons. They are Franklin County board member Dean
Ringle, at large member Lynn Kartavich and Preble County board member Dave Wesler.
And welcome to the new Board Members who have joined us recently! All of our new board members
are also county officials in their respective counties! Joining the board are Licking County Engineer
Bill Lozier, Montgomery County Engineer Paul Gruner and Preble County Commissioner Chris Day.
We continue to work on the Mile Marker project making strides of progress with Dean Ringle at the
helm. It is exciting to see the placement of the new and restored mile markers along The Road.
The Eastern Gateway Kiosk was placed at the rest area on the eastern side of the state recently. If you
are westbound on I-70, stop and take a look at it!
There are 20 interpretive signs ready to install and unveil this year. It will be impressive to watch as
these signs are placed along The Road this year. Please join us at the placement ceremonies at each
special location for these informational and educational signs. The hard work by staff members and the
Signage Committee is appreciated. Thanks to all who have helped!
Our CMP project is underway. Information gatherers have been busy collecting pertinent data to submit
for a final document. The gathered information is being forwarded to our consultant Gabe Hays who
will assemble the data and complete the update.
Inside this Issue
Plan to join us during the Annual National Road Yard Sale Days
where you can buy, sell or browse while enjoying the sites along Harper Endowment Fundraiser
the Road. This year’s dates are May 27th through May 31 st.
Gant Grant Money
Membership is important to this organization. If you have interest
in helping to preserve the history of The Road, please consider Milemarkers
joining ONRA to keep our organization strong.
National Road Trivia
I encourage you all to take a journey along the National Road and
Yard Sale Days & Merchandise
enjoy the sites, scenes, and history along the way!
Mary Ellen Weingartner, President
Ohio National Road Association

Interpretive Signage Ceremonies & Membership Update
AN ALL – AMERICAN ROAD NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY

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Page 2
ONRA Raises Money for the Glenn Harper Endowment Fund
On October 3, 2014 the
Ohio National Road Association held a fundraiser for the Glenn A.
Harper
Endowment
Fund for Preservation
on the Ohio Historic National Road. The event
was held at the Hays
Landscape Architecture
Studio in St. Clairsville,
Ohio.
A
total
of
$2,578.99 was raised
for
the
endowment
which is held by the
Springfield Foundation.
Pictured (Left to Right): Mary Ellen Weingartner (Current ONRA President), Doug
Smith (Former ONRA President), Glenn Harper (Endowment Namesake), and Nancy
Campbell (Current ONRA Secretary).
Gant Grant Money
Put To Good Use
The Nelson T. Gant Foundation used the grant
awarded from the Glenn A. Harper Endowment for
Preservation of the Ohio National Road for improved security and historical appearance of the
Gant House facility in Zanesville.
The original historic front door features and trim
along with a new period window have greatly enhanced the security and appearance of the house.
The foundation plans to continue their enhancement of the Nelson T. Gant House by varnishing
the entry this summer. Kudos to the Gant family
and friends for continuing the preservation of this
iconic structure!
Page 3
Recovering a National Road Milemarker
On Tuesday, May 5, ONRA member Harry Campbell was glancing through an online
auction catalog and saw a National Road Mile Marker for sale. He sent the catalog’s
link to his wife, ONRA Secretary Nancy Campbell, who forwarded it to all the ONRA
board members. By the end of the day, Past President Doug Smith had left phone messages with the auction company and with ODOT’s District 5, the marker’s rightful owner.
The marker, #198, had stood in Muskingum County, west of Bridgeville. Its top number
indicates that it was 198 miles from Cumberland, Maryland, the beginning point of the
National Road. On the side seen by eastbound travelers, it indicates that Wheeling is
68 miles further. For the westbound travelers, the marker let them know that Zanesville
is six miles off.
On Wednesday, Doug talked with the auctioneer and explained that the National Road mile markers belong
to the state, county, or township whose right-of-way they were in. Some markers are in museums and
parks, and many remain on the Road. According to ODOT, removing markers from the existing ODOT right
-of-way, without their permission, could be a criminal violation of the law that prohibits altering or destroying
highway markers.
The auctioneer wanted no part of that and, after conferring with the consigner, pulled it from the catalog.
ODOT welcomed the marker back to Muskingum County, and hopes to be able to re-install it along the
Road later this year.
National Road Trivia: “Where the heck is this?”
Hint: This photo shows a National Road bridge spanning another important Ohio transportation corridor.
Do you know where it is? (Answer found on page 5)
Page 4
Annual Historic
National Road (US
40) Yard Sale Days
Over 225 miles of
Roadside Treasures!
SUPPORT
ONRA!


Ohio National Road/
Route 40 T-shirts
$10 each (Sizes S & M only) Limited Quantities
Historic National Road
Magnet
$3 each
Available at the May ONRA
Board Meeting and at Ohio
Pottery (Norwich, OH) and
at the upcoming Interpretative Sign Unveilings while
quantities last.
All Proceeds Go Directly to
ONRA!
May 27 – May 31, 2015
May 30th is Super Saturday
You’ll find everything from antiques, collectibles
and furniture to housewares, children’s items,
baked goods & much more!
Local participation varies, so check area
listings for sales near you.
"Fill'er Up Along The
National Road"
ICE COLD WATER — $1
SUPPORT ONRA! We encourage you to offer water
to the Yard Sale travelers with all proceeds going to
the ONRA organization. Let’s have as many stops
along the road as possible offering water. Please
find your spot along The Road and help us out!
Page 5
ONRA Interpretive
Signage Unveiling
Ceremonies
Our Interpretive Signage Committee
has been busy researching, designing, and creating new interpretive
signage to place along the Ohio National Road. There are currently 20
signs ready for installation this coming summer and fall. Whenever an
interpretive sign is installed there is
an unveiling ceremony held to celebrate the object of the sign (event,
building, town, etc.), the sign installation, and the association. Please be
on the lookout for email updates for
the dates, times, and locations of
these upcoming events and help us
celebrate the good work being done
along the National Road.
Picture from the Engine House 11 Interpretive Sign
Unveiling Ceremony held November 8, 2014.
Trivia Answer to the “Where the
Heck is This” from page 3:
The National Road bridge in the
east end of Hebron crossing the
Ohio & Erie Canal in the early
1900s, after the heyday of the
canal systems and just as the
highway era shifts into full speed
ahead!
Membership Update
ONRA currently has over 100 memberships!
Special thanks to our Business Members along the Road….
Village of Hebron
www.hebronvillage.com
City of Englewood
www.englewood.oh.us
Hays Landscape Architecture Studio, Ltd., St. Clairsville
www.hayslas.com
Heritage Ohio
www.heritageohio.org
Belmont County Tourism Council, St. Clairsville
www.belmontcountytourism.org
Historic Buena Vista Motel, South Vienna
www.historicbuenavistamotel.com
Bushnell Investment Co., Springfield
Licking County Area Transportation Study (LCATS)
www.lcats.org
Zanesville-Muskingum County Convention & Visitors Bureau
www.visitzanesville.com
Johnson’s Lamp Shop, Springfield
www.johnsonslampshop.com
Village of Lewisburg
www.lewisburg.webs.com
Ohio Pottery, Norwich
www.ohiopotterynorwich.com
Doug Smith Realty and Auction Co., Pataskala
www.auctionzip.com/OH-Auctioneers/40310.html
Nelson T. Gant Foundation, Zanesville
www.nelsontgantfoundation.org/aboutus.html
Merchants National Bank (Springfield, Greenfield, Washington CH)
www.merchantsnat.com/
Greater Licking County Convention & Visitors Bureau
www.escapetolickingcounty.com/
Turner Foundation, Springfield
www.turnerfoundation.org/
...and to our Weekend Rovers contributing $100 to ONRA...
James H. Eidemiller
Glenn Harper
Sylvia D. Miller
Gregory Williamson
….and to all of the members of ONRA………...
We appreciate your support!
Membership Information
You have the opportunity to play an important role in the
preservation and development of the National Road by
becoming a Member of the Ohio National Road Association and
donating to a Special Project, Endowment Fund, or Merchandise
NAME ___________________________________________
ADDRESS_________________________________________
PHONE___________________________________________
EMAIL ___________________________________________
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT ONRA?___________________
NEW MEMBERSHIP OR RENEWAL:
 INDIVIDUAL: $30.00
 FAMILY: $50.00
 BUSINESS: $100.00
®
DONATION AMOUNT TO SPECIAL PROJECT, FUND OR MISC:

SPECIAL PROJECT
$


ENDOWMENT FUND
ART PRINT, PIN, CARDS
$
$
TOTAL ENCLOSED: $
SEND FORM AND PAYMENT TO:
Ohio National Road Association
c/o Chris Harkness—Byway Coordinator
20 South Second Street
Newark, Ohio 43055
-orJoin, contribute or purchase online at
www.ohionationalroad.org
If you enjoy receiving this newsletter, be sure to renew your membership or join ONRA today!
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The Ohio
National Road
Association
would like to
thank its
sponsors:
®
Spring 2015 Newsletter
Ohio National Road Association
Gerald Newton & Chris Harkness—Byway Coordinators
20 South Second Street
Newark, Ohio 43055
Visit us online at www.ohionationalroad.org