Washington County Roads

American Friend & Marietta Gazette, July 25, 1829

New Road From Marietta to Zanesville.

The public are hereby informed that a New Road is now opened and ready for travelling from Zanesville to Marietta, by way of McConnelsville.

This route is on much the best ground, and differs in distance but a few rods from the Old Road.

Directions. Persons travelling from Marietta on this road will proceed direct to Waterford Landing; thence up the river and cross Olive Green and Meigs Creek at or near their mouths, one fourth of a mile above the last named Creek, take the right hand road up the hill; then follow the ridge to McConnelsville.  Those travelling from Zanesville will keep down the River about 13 miles, then the road rises upon the ridge; (be careful to keep the road that is most on top of the ridge); then the plainest road to McConnelsville.

N.B.  The Mail stage is expected to travel this route by the 10th or 15th of July.

June 29th, 1829.

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Marietta Daily Times, October 2, 1925

Will Grade Old Stage Coach Road

Work of improving the old state road, one of the historic drives of southeastern Ohio, is to be started at once at Coal Run and the improvement will be extended over Dungannon Hill and across Tick Ridge to the Morgan County line.  It is expected that the Morgan and Muskingum County commissioners will cooperate in grading and resurfacing the road so that within the next year or two it will become a fine drive.

This is the old stage coach road over which mail between Marietta and Zanesville was carried nearly a century ago, and it is the shortest route between the two cities.  It follows the Muskingum River to the village of Coal Run, then turns back toward Dungannon and passes on into Morgan County.  It goes by way of High Hill and Chandlersville and on into Zanesville by way of Marietta Street.

Grading will start at the intersection of the present river road at Coal Run and will be pushed through to Tick Ridge this fall.  The road will be widened to state requirements, a drainage system will be installed and it will be surfaced with crushed river gravel.  It is expected that nearly two miles of the project can be completed this fall.

The Ohio Bell Telephone Company will move its line of poles off of the right-of-way at once, it is announced, so that grading can be started.