Black Horse Inn Story Shared at Tourism Meeting
Veteran community activists and historic preservation advocates, Pam McCort and John Rataiczak, were recently keynote speakers for the winter meeting of the regional tourism group Appalachian Ohio that took place at the Belmont Hills Country Club.
McCort credited her late husband, Tom, long serving Belmont County Sheriff, as the initial “spark” for the 36 year project and who, in 1989, convinced a group of five individuals to purchase the shuttered inn that dates to 1807 and 1830.
“People said the Black Horse was functionally obsolete – smart people, like builders, developers, and others….we weren’t experts – we were dreamers,” McCort said.
While recognition of the group’s efforts to return the building to active use were numerous, money to accomplish the goal eluded the group.
McCort credits current Belmont County Tourism Director Jackee Pugh for her vision to combine the efforts to save the Black Horse and also build up the late John Mattox’s dream, The Underground Railroad Museum, combining the two into one project.
An application to the DeWine Administration’s Ohio Appalachian Community Grant Program was successful resulting in a grant of $3.9 million to help transform that spark into a flame and now a fire.
John Rataiczak has also been an active participant in the 36-year journey to save the Black Horse Inn. He shared information on both the group’s fundraising efforts, including the National Pike Festival, house tours and even car shows over the year, as well as their efforts to protect the building for its eventual transformation.
The Black Horse building, like others in Belmont County in that era, was a stop on the Underground Railroad. The building is also located on the first public highway funded by the federal government, The National Road.
He shared information on the meticulous research and professional history displays that will be housed in the historic inn.
Work is already underway preparing the interior for the new museum that will open this fall.
McCort wrapped up with the following words of wisdom for others. “Never underestimate the power of a dream, the power of a spark, no matter how absurd”.
“Protect it, feed it, share it. Because that spark can change your community – and maybe even history itself.”
Barnesville Area News reported on the June groundbreaking for the new Underground Railroad at the Black Horse Inn. Dignitaries at the event included Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine. Read about the event here.
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