An ‘Experience’ Like No Other
Celebrate the Underground Railroad Museum’s Move to the Black Horse Inn
Freedom – it’s a cornerstone of the American way of life and a defining element of our national character.
Yet, for hundreds of years, freedom wasn’t available to an entire race of people living in colonial America and then the United States. In fact, people of African descent had no power to speak, act, worship, or travel as they chose. Instead, they were enslaved, held in bondage, forced to labor for the benefit of others, and considered to be the property of their “masters.”
In the decades following the American Revolution, slavery was gradually abolished in the northern states. The dispute between the North and South over the issue eventually led to the Civil War of the 1860s.
The Underground Railroad Museum
But long before the first shot was fired in the War Between the States, abolitionists were working quietly to help enslaved people reach freedom via a network that came to be known as the Underground Railroad. Many of the paths in that network led to the “free state” of Ohio. Several locations right here in Belmont County, especially those associated with local Quaker residents, offered refuge to those fleeing a life of forced labor in the South.
My late friend Dr. John S. Mattox devoted much of his life to preserving and sharing the stories of those who made their way north along the Underground Railroad. He collected artifacts, such as the balls and chains that were used to weigh those people down and prevent their escape. He read every book on the topic that he could get his hands on. He traveled to schools near and far, educating young people of all ages about slavery and the fight for freedom and equality.
Then, in 1993, John and his wife Rosalind “Roz” Mattox founded the Underground Railroad Museum. For years, it has been located inside a 1930s bank building along High Street in Flushing. That facility housed John’s collection of more than 8,000 artifacts and served as a place where the public could learn the many hard lessons associated with slavery and its aftermath.
Roz died in 2011, and John continued their work at the museum until he passed away in 2019. I then joined the museum board, serving alongside their children John R. Mattox and Suzanne Evans and many others who were dedicated to continuing their legacy.
The Black Horse Inn
As the Ohio wilderness opened up during the 19th century in the era of slavery, a tavern and stagecoach stop was built along the National Road in Morristown by village founder Duncan Morrison. Dating back to 1807, that building still stands today. Known as the Black Horse Inn, it has a long, rich history that features stints as a hotel and reportedly as a stop on the Underground Railroad.
In 2013, a group of local residents formed the Morristown Historic Preservation Association and acquired the inn with hopes of restoring and preserving it. I reported on their efforts several times over the years, getting a good look at the time-worn building while work to renovate its exterior progressed.
Fast forward to today: The inn has undergone a nearly $5 million transformation, thanks to a partnership among the Belmont County Board of Commissioners, Belmont County Port Authority, Belmont County Tourism Council, the Underground Railroad Museum, the Village of Morristown, the Morristown Historic Preservation Association, and numerous other community partners and funding through Gov. Mike DeWine’s Appalachian Community Grant Program.
On Friday, it will open to the public as the new home of Mattox’s collection. It will be known as The Underground Railroad Experience at the Black Horse Inn.
The new ‘Experience’
As a member of the Belmont County Tourism Council board, I had the opportunity a couple of weeks ago to walk through the facility as construction wrapped up. Having followed the story of both the Underground Railroad Museum and the inn for well over a decade, I found that experience extremely moving.
When I arrived in Morristown on that beautiful autumn day, the first thing I noticed was the bronze sculpture of Dr. Mattox seated on a bench right outside the door of the inn, much like he would sit on a bench outside his Flushing museum and tell the stories of freedom seekers. I went directly to that bench and took a seat alongside that life-sized depiction of my dear friend. It gave me goosebumps to be a part of that “reunion.”
Then, when I walked inside, I couldn’t believe my eyes. The structural improvements to the 220-year-old building, the brilliant exhibits curated by the Columbus-based Center of Science and Industry (COSI), the welcoming lobby area and the cohesive feel of the entire facility were overwhelming to me.
One spot that stopped me in my tracks was an entire wall covered with images of local news stories about the inn, the Flushing museum, Dr. Mattox and the evolution of the partnerships that led to where we are today. I spotted familiar headlines, editorials I had written and my own byline featured prominently there. I also saw the names of several of my former colleagues in journalism, including Robert A. DeFrank, Paula Ginther and others.
It seemed that every time I turned another corner, I discovered something else that was amazing. John Ratiaczak, a pivotal figure in the effort, helped guide me along the path through the exhibits. A member of the Morristown Historic Preservation Association and the Belmont County Tourism Council board, his passion for the project is easy to see on his face and to hear in his voice, which trembles a little as he describes certain portions of the work.
Now, you also have the opportunity to share in this experience that means so much to so many people. At 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, Ratiaczak and Belmont Tourism Executive Director Jackee Pugh will host the Grand Opening of the Underground Railroad Experience at the Black Horse Inn, located at 320 Main St. in Morristown.
Gov. Mike DeWine and wife Fran are expected to attend, along with Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik, Belmont County commissioners and Port Authority officials, and numerous others who have supported or contributed to the project. Students from Olney Friends School in Barnesville will perform a traditional African dance as part of the ceremony.
The public is welcome, and free group tours will be offered after the ribbon cutting. I hope to see you there!
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