Muskingum County History Opens 462 Putnam

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Many local transportation and industrial jobs that once proudly served the community, have become obsolete and forgotten through time.

Muskingum County History Executive Director Larisa Harper explained how the purpose of her organization is to help to reveal the magnitude that those jobs provided within our community along with the impact that our community made around the world. 

“We have a couple of things going on,” Harper said. “We are unveiling a new historical marker, which is commemorating the Sixth Street Bridge’s Tender Building, which was used to lower and lift the metal mechanisms so that boats could pass through the canal. The other thing we’re celebrating is that we have finished, nearly 100 percent, the restoration of this building, 462 Putnam Avenue, which will become our archives building.”

The Sixth Street Bridge Tender’s Building marker reveal was the inaugural event held at Muskingum County History’s 462 Putnam Avenue location. The property, also known as the Stone Academy Courtyard is where the Bridge Tender’s Building can be found, alongside the locally-made streetlights that spanned the length of the previous Sixth Street Bridge.

“We want to make sure that we are teaching our future generations to know more about how this city was founded, the industries that were so big in the early times of America and especially in the early statehood of Ohio. And the significance that this Putnam area has,” Harper said.

Muskingum History has several upcoming events that highlight the area’s rich culture and history. For more information about the organization and their upcoming events, you can visit muskingumcountyhistory.org.