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“Stone Academy needs roof repairs
Written by: Leonard Hayhurst; Staff Writer
ZANESVILLE — Community support is needed to preserve a historically significant Zanesville landmark.
Recent routine maintenance revealed structural problems with the roof of the Stone Academy Historic Site and Museum, said Pioneer and Historical Society Director Jim Geyer. About $16,000 is being sought to make needed repairs. It’s hoped the project would be finished by fall 2013.
Geyer said about half the money should be raised locally with the other estimated $8,000 to come from matching grants. He said the campaign started about three weeks ago and about $2,000 has been raised so far.
He said it’s important for a matching grant from the Ohio Historical Society history fund that local money comes from various sources to show widespread community support.
“The more local support we get from multiple sources, the better our chances are of getting the grant,” Geyer said. “If it’s just one of our donors giving us the money that might be more support dollar wise, but it doesn’t show support community wise.”
The Stone Academy was built in 1809, but a roof addition made in 1840 has been causing water to miss the gutter system and leak down the side of the building, damaging stucco covering the walls. Geyer said the problem temporarily has been fixed, but new slate and repairing the underlying damaged structure is needed for a permanent solution.
Geyer said further roof analysis revealed the entire structure needed replaced along with 145 roof slates. He said what slates could be salvaged would be. New slates would come from other buildings of the time to retain historical authenticity and cut costs on buying new slate.
Geyer said this work and additional yearly slate repair and replacement is important for preserving the building and the collection of historical local items it houses.
Failure to address it now, he said, will result in more damage and more costly repairs needed in the future.
“Looking at it from the outside, you really don’t see where the root of the problem is. You might see a symptom. If you look up you can see the sagging part,” Geyer said. “The bulk of the cost and expenses is going to be to take and repair the rafters, the structure underneath the roof.”
The Stone Academy features paintings, furniture, documents and artifacts on display or in storage. The history library and archives also is available for research and study by individuals. The museum has average more than 1,500 visitors annually over the past five years, Geyer said, for tours, meetings, events and programs.
Nationally, the building has been recognized as a stop on the Underground Railroad for escaped slaves during the 1800s and the site of state anti-slavery society conventions in 1835 and 1839.
Geyer said it’s the oldest standing public building in Ohio.
Geyer said the society also is looking to do restoration projects at the Dr. Increase Mathews House it maintains.
This includes installing a new boiler, conserving the portrait of Dr. Mathews by James Pierce Barton, repairing a reed organ and other needs.
“What our board has done is try to be proactive,” Geyer said. “We’ve got to take better care of the stuff we’ve got. If we don’t, we’re losing it. Like we’re losing buildings, we’re losing artwork and artifacts.””
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