The Dr. Increase Mathews House

304 Woodlawn Avenue 740.454.9500

The Dr. Increase Mathews House, located in the Putnam Historic District of Zanesville, is the area's oldest building.

In 1801, in partnership with his uncle, General Rufus Putnam, and cousin Levi Whipple, Mathews purchased the land across the Muskingum River from Zanesville. In 1805, Zanesville's first medical doctor built a single story sandstone house on his land at what is now the corner of Washington Street and Woodlawn Avenue. The kitchen, with its large double fireplace, was in the basement.

Dr. Mathews lived in the stone cottage for 51 years.The house was enlarged in 1884 by the addition of two stories to the original sandstone cottage. The house stayed in the Mathews family for some years. In 1970, Mrs. F.F. (Dorthea Guthrie) Frazier bequeathed the property to the Pioneer and Historical Society.

Visitors can see historic room settings, exhibits about local military history and the Muskingum River, as well as displays of quilts, local glass, and pottery.The military exhibit was updated and enlarged in 2007.

Hours:            April - September           1st and 3rd Sundays each month                                           1:00 - 4:00 pm;  other times by appointment.

Admission:      Adult: $2.00    Students:  $1.00                                                                        Free to members of the Pioneer and Historical Society

                      Salvation Army Day Campers Visit the Mathews House