Stone Academy

115 Jefferson Street 740-454-9500

Located in the Putnam Historic District, The Stone Academy is one of the oldest and arguably the most historic building in Muskingum County. Constructed in 1809 by Dr. Increase Mathews, Levi Whipple, and Ebenezer Buckingham, it was designed to serve as the new state capitol building. Across the river in Zanesville, then a separate and rival community, John McIntire and others constructed a building of their own with the same goal. Zanesville was selected and served as the capital of Ohio from 1810 to 1812.

The Stone Academy functioned as a school and a public building until it was converted to a private residence in 1840. In the 1830's it was the center of abolitionist activity in Putnam. The Ohio Anti-Salvery Society held state conventions in the building in 1835 and 1839. On both occasions violence erupted when mobs of pro-slavery Zanesville "Tuckahoes" disrupted the proceedings.

The building also served as a station on the Underground Railroad. The museum's most popular exhibit highlights a hidden trap door under the staircase that accessed a craw-space  where run-a-way slaves hid.

Another popular exhibit features boos written by author, actress, and activist Elizabeth Robins who lived in the building in the 1870's.

Other highlights include historic portraits of John and Sarah McIntire and others, several murals, Allwine and Bailey furniture, pottery, Native American artifacts, an historic timeline of Putnam, exhibits from Zanesville's old bridges including the famous Y-Bridge, a tribute to John Glenn, and many other items illustrating the history and culture of Muskingum County.

Hours:           Wednesday - Friday                          1:00 - 4:00 pm
                     Saturdays   (April - October)             10:00 am - 1:00 pm

                     Closed October 31, 2009

                      (Also open by appointment)

Admission:      Adults:          $3.00
                     Students:       $1.00  
                     Free to members of the Pioneer and Historical Society

State Representative Troy Balderson, P&HS President Bob Jenkins, Nancy Sams of the Belphre Historical Society, and Underground Railroad Historian Henry Robert Burke are pictured below with the new Ohio Historical marker at the Stone Academy.

The Muskingum Music Makers perfom at the Stone