T-L File Photo The late Dr. John Mattox, curator of the Underground Railroad in Flushing, looks over a model of the Jacob Holloway House in 2016. The home was once a station and safe house along the Underground Railroad. Ohio is marking 220 years of statehood today, including a proud abolitionist history.

OHIO IS marking 220 years of statehood today, and Ohioans have much to celebrate.

Ohio has been integral to the United States, serving as a crossroads of the nation and a gateway to the West. Travelers utilized the Ohio River and other rivers and stream in the region, and stops for wagon trains grew into communities along the National Road. Ohio has been a breadbasket of America, thanks to the Buckeye State’s rich history of agriculture, and it has been a seat of industry and energy production that drove the economy as well as a haven for abolitionism during the tumultuous era leading to the Civil War.

Brock Rogers, treasurer of the Belmont County Historical Society, expounded on Ohio’s contributions since it was designated a state in 1803.

“It’s the birthplace of presidents as a state, more troops to the Civil War I think than any other Northern state, the nation doesn’t exist without Ohio. We’re an important piece to the bigger puzzle as far as history of the entire nation is concerned,” Rogers said.

He said the local area also boasts considerable history that contributed to development of the 17th state.

“The first native-born governor of Ohio came from Belmont County, Wilson Shannon,” he said.

Another well-known figure is Arthur St. Clair, the namesake of the city of St. Clairsville who featured prominently in the Revolutionary War and the early formation of the federal government.

Rogers also touched on the area’s economic contributions.

“All the coal through the years, providing power to not only Ohio and the rest of the area. The history is great, too,” he said. He mentioned the Watt Car and Wheel Company of Barnesville. “They’ve supplied mining cars for a lot of those coal operations.”

There are also the remains of many one-time railroads.

“It’s been something that’s hidden even. If you’re not older than 40-45, you don’t remember the railroad coming through,” Rogers said.

Alongside the Ohio River, the city of Martins Ferry claims the status of Ohio’s first settlement in 1779, predating the state.

There are numerous other communities from the earliest days of Ohio that have since vanished.

Rogers said there is no shortage of off opportunities for those wishing to mark Ohio’s birthday by learning about its history.

“I don’t think a lot of people from Belmont County realize how many great museums we have,” Rogers said. “The Victorian (Mansion) Museum in Barnesville, the Underground Railroad Museum in Flushing, the Belmont County Heritage Museum in St. Clairsville, Bellaire Toy and Plastic Brick.”

He also mentioned the Great Western Schoolhouse near Ohio University Eastern, the Imperial Glass Museum in Bellaire and the Sedgwick House in Martins Ferry.

“There’s a lot of great museums where people can go and learn a lot about local history,” he said.

Ohio Rep. Don Jones, R-Freeport, said Ohio has both a proud history and great potential for the future.

“March 1 is the big day. The state of Ohio turns 220 years old, and we have a lot to offer,” he said.

Jones added Ohio has been blessed with a wide variety of landscapes, from mining and manufacturing to agriculture and tourism, with an exceptional state park system.

“I joke with people – really there’s five states within the state of Ohio when you look at the different areas,” he said. “Which I think makes Ohio really attractive.”

Ohio’s resources include an abundance of minerals, coal, natural gas and oil.

“We have a lot to be thankful for and a lot to be proud of,” Jones said.

Another treasure of the area continues to be the quality of people.

“I represent a lot of blue-collar, hard-working people and I’m very proud of that and I think we hold our own,” he said. “Our kids do very well. Our athletics, our academics. We have a lot to be proud of.”

Jones mentioned civic leaders and inventors as well.

“We’ve been a leader in so many areas,” he said. “Eastern Ohio and Southeastern Ohio, I’m very proud to represent and the contributions that we have made.”

He said much of the area’s heritage can also be found in agriculture.

“We have families that have been here for over 100 years. Some of the first farms in Ohio were here in Eastern Ohio, and some of those farms still have the original sheepskin deeds that were signed by President James Madison,” he said. “It’s a big day, and one we should be proud of and one that we should celebrate.”

Jones hopes to see recognition of the occasion today when the House of Representatives is in session.

The Belmont County Tourism Council is also marking the occasion, pointing to numerous local historic tidbits on its social media, such as Martins Ferry’s early settlement and that Betty Zane, who made a daring run for gunpowder to supply Ft. Henry at the site of present-day Wheeling during the Revolutionary War, lived much of her life in Martins Ferry. It notes that former governor Wilson Shannon was also the only person to serve as governor of two regions, since he also was governor of the Kansas territory. His oldest brother, George Shannon III, was the youngest Lewis and Clark Expedition member. His nephew, Isaac Parker, gained fame as the “hanging judge” of the old west.

Gov. Mike DeWine will be holding a statehood presentation at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Statehouse along with the Ohio History Connection.