The Old Johnson House

The Marietta Register, September 21, 1871

The old "Johnson house" on Fifth Street, just below Washington, has been bought by James Stevens, who is repairing it.

This house has an interesting history. It was built (except the weather boarding) out of materials from the original Stockade, erected on Washington Street in 1788, by the first settlers here. The logs inside of the weather boarding are now partly exposed.

It was also the first house in which the Methodists in Marietta held their meetings in the early part of this century. It was then the residence of Jonas Johnson, the most active and prominent Methodist of this place in those days.

The first Methodist meeting in town was a Camp Meeting held near the Stockade Landing in 1804, at which Mr. Johnson was converted. On the organization of the Methodists Church here in 1805, he became the first Class Leader. Tradition tells us that his house used to be stoned, when meetings were held there, the windows broken, squibs fired, and the chimney covered with boards to smoke and annoy the worshipers.