Historic Structures Remain in Freeport
Older pictures are from the files of the Puskarich Public Library and newer ones were taken by the author.
Small towns almost always have an interesting background and a few historical spots. Freeport might surprise you with its history that still lives on today.
The name Freeport began when the town served as a free port on Stillwater Creek to ship produce toward settlements along the Tuscarawas River, which joined the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers. The swift currents on these small rivers were easy for the Native Americans to use in their canoes but became more difficult for carrying produce. Today Little Stillwater Creek makes up part of the Tappan Lake Watershed.
Before long, the Ohio-Erie Canal solved some of those shipping problems, but it came to an end when the railroads came to town. The B&O had a depot in Freeport and it was one of the two last standing stations in Harrison County along with the one at Scio.
The plat for Freeport Ohio was laid out in 1810 in Tuscarawas County but brought into Harrison County in 1819 due to a county boundary change. It’s also on the edge of Guernsey County. A post office has been in operation in Freeport since 1814.
One of the founders of the town was Daniel Easley, who built a brick house in the late 1800s. He later sold to John Reaves, who was a teacher and the first Harrison County resident to die in the Civil War. His home, still known as the John Reaves House, is on the National Register of Historic Places, is the oldest structure in Freeport, and considered an architectural wonder. In 1888, it was home to the first bank in Freeport. Since 1991, it has housed the Clark Memorial Branch of the Puskarich Public Library. In 1998, a Children’s Wing was added to the original building.
Freeport Lockup is a stone jail built in 1895 by the Starkey family. The stones were hauled by wagon from the Bill Rowland Stone Quarry. This jail was actually used until 1937 and still can be seen along the road leading into town.
Here you will find the only sixteen-sided barn in Ohio just one mile south of town. Built between 1916 and 1921 by John Stewart & Sons, it is one of only three sixteen-sided barns left in the United States. This rare type of barn originated from the design of George Washington, our first president. The Freeport barn is 60 ft. high and 60 ft. across with a 12 ft. silo in the center. Visitors are welcome anytime of the year by the owners, who have lovingly restored this historic barn. Nice to see that it is still in good use today.
Skull Fork Covered Bridge built in 1876 is located near the barn on Covered Bridge Road. Legend has it that local Indians had kidnapped and murdered individuals whose skulls were found near the creek.] The scenic Buckeye Trail passes through this covered bridge and along the shore of Piedmont Lake. This trail goes through 44 of Ohio’s counties and covers over 1444 miles of a continuous loop encircling the state.
Freeport Press is family-owned and has served customers with quality print solutions since 1880 when it was established as a weekly newspaper by J.J. Ashenhurst. They are a major business today printing many high-end magazines, catalogs, and commercial print. In 1949, a new building was constructed using stone from the Freeport Stone Quarry on the front. Today there have been additions on both sides but that stone front remains the same. In January 2005, Mr. David G. Pilcher became the sole owner of Freeport Press, which employs over 200 people.
Freeport Fire Department has a beautiful mural by Sarah Koch on the side of their building showing an early fire engine being pulled by horses. They have an annual festival that involves the entire community. It is held the last weekend in July and includes a parade, craft and vendors show, display of fire equipment, and of course delicious food in the form of a chicken barbecue and fish fry.
Drive to Piedmont Lake just a few miles southeast. The lake was created in 1933 to provide flood reduction as well as for conservation and recreation. It’s a great place for fishing and boating with Piedmont Marina providing boat rental, docking fuel, boating and fishing supplies as well as a lunch counter. There is also a nice renovated campground with electric hookups or you might prefer to stay in one of their vacation cabins. 4-H Camp there many years ago provided summer entertainment during my youth.
Today, Freeport has about 400 residents and many interesting spots to visit. Spend a few hours there and stop to eat at a local restaurant or spend a weekend at one of the local inns or Piedmont Lake. There’s nothing like the hospitality of a small town.
Gypsy Road Trip 