Grant sought to purchase Lundy House

by Kate Davison | Monday, January 9th 2017

Belmont County leaders are generating support for a local effort working to improve a major historic site along National Road. Nearly one year ago, Dr. John Mattox and attorney Michael McCormick first embarked on a mission to acquire the former St. Clairsville home of abolitionist Benjamin Lundy (WTOV).

AA BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio — Belmont County leaders are generating support for a local effort working to improve a major historic site along National Road. Nearly one year ago, Dr. John Mattox and attorney Michael McCormick first embarked on a mission to acquire the former St. Clairsville home of abolitionist Benjamin Lundy. Belmont County commissioners have written a letter in support of a grant request from the Underground Railroad Museum for the purchase and improvement of the former Benjamin Lundy house in St. Clairsville. "On the National Road, that is the last one left with the original lawn,” said McCormick. "We plan to develop it as a park and a garden with period and native plants. If you're unaware this is probably the last property in St. Clairsville that has the rear area from Main Street as it was originally.” Dr. Mattox has also received a letter of support from the St. Clairsville schools’ superintendent in the hope that students can benefit from the project's historical significance. With five letters of support from varying entities for the project, Mattox says the board will earn five or six points toward purchasing the building through an Ohio Public Works grant. "This is history and you don’t have to travel hundreds of miles to find out what you have in your own backyard," Mattox said. The Lundy House is planned to be a satellite facility of the Underground Railroad Museum in Flushing.