MORRISTOWN — Gov. Mike DeWine didn’t let the heat deter him from attending the Underground Railroad Museum’s groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday morning.

DeWine applauded the hard work and dedication of Belmont County Tourism, the Underground Railroad Museum, the Morristown Historic Preservation Association and all Belmont County officials who are working toward making the new home of the museum a destination for people from all over the state.

“It’s a big day for Morristown and Belmont County. We’re standing right now on the National Road and think about a couple hundred years ago, people that were coming through here before it was a national road trail here. It’s important, I think, that we preserve our history. And what’s going to go into this building, it will tell the story of this area, the history of the road, but also the history of the Underground Railroad, and I think this is going to be a great place for tourism. It’s going to be a great place for school kids to visit and see part of our history,” DeWine said.

Last year, the Underground Railroad Museum received $3.9 million from DeWine’s Appalachian Community Grant Program. The program is part of a $154 million investment in Appalachian downtowns and destinations.

DeWine added that he believes the restoration of the Black Horse Inn and converting it into the new home of the Underground Railroad is the perfect way to preserve Belmont County history while bringing money into Morristown.

Underground Railroad Museum Director Kristina Estle said she could not be happier for action to begin on renovating the Black Horse Inn to transform it into the new home for the museum.

Although she is ecstatic, Estle added that a lot of work still lies ahead.

“I’m starting a list now of volunteers, because we’ll have 8,000 items, and I think we’re only going to be able to bring a third of that collection, and that’s still a lot,” she said. “So deciding what is going to stay and what’s going to go is a really hard decision, because for me personally, I want to see this continue in (the late founder) Dr. (John) Mattox’s likeness, the way he envisioned this organization, and I want to make sure that continues. And with us moving and this becoming so much bigger and better, I still don’t want to lose that vision. So that’s going to be the hardest part of the whole thing really.”

Estle added that she is looking for volunteers.

“We’re volunteer based and volunteer run. So if we’re going to be expected to be open more days, we’re going to need more volunteers,” she said.

She added that anyone who would want to volunteer can email her at director@ugrrm.org.

Mattox’s son John Mattox Jr. is the board chairman for the Underground Railroad Museum.

He said that the ceremony fell near the six-year anniversary since his father died.

“My parents, Dr. John and Rosalind Mattox, founded the Underground Railroad Museum more than 30 years ago. What began with a traveling trunk of artifacts my father carried into schools eventually grew into a collection of nearly 8,000 items. But for him, it was never just about preserving objects — it was about honoring the stories of courage, resilience and freedom. It was about shining a light on a history too often left in the shadows,” Mattox said. “He devoted his later years to preserving and sharing the stories of freedom seekers — sparking a deep appreciation for history in everyone he met. He never knew a stranger. And as we approach the six-year anniversary of his passing, I can’t imagine a more meaningful way to honor his legacy.” Belmont County Tourism Council Executive Director Jackee Pugh said she believes this project is transformational for Belmont County.

“Not only is it saving a historic building, it’s moving the cherished Underground Railroad Museum into a new space with curated exhibits that truly will tell the story chronologically of what enslaved people went through and how Belmont County residents, abolitionists and Quakers helped assist them on their journey. So it’s really a two-sided story that we get to tell. It’s just going to be amazing for our area and is going to attract new people in, and we’re going to not only get to show them this building and museum, but show them all of Belmont County and the great things we have to offer,” she said. “The restoration of the Black Horse Inn and the relocation of the Underground Railroad Museum is more than just a construction project, it’s an investment in storytelling, in community and in truth.”

Pugh said the museum’s new location doesn’t have an opening date, but the funds are required to be spent by October 2026 as part of the grant agreement.

Morristown Historic Preservation Association President John Rataiczak also served as the master of ceremonies for Tuesday’s event.

“Today, we gather to celebrate the beginning of a transformational restoration project made possible through the Appalachian Community Grant Program, and it’s about more than bricks and mortar — it’s about honoring the stories of resilience, freedom and community that define our shared past. This project is a restored symbol of our past — and a beacon for future generations by combining two cornerstones of Belmont County history: the Black Horse Inn and the Underground Railroad Museum,” he said.

Erected around 1807 as a smaller structure, the Black Horse Inn grew as additions came later in the years, according to ohio.org. It was the site of village founder Duncan Morrison’s tavern and was reputed to be part of the Underground Railroad during the Civil War. In April 2013, a group of people, led by the Morristown Historic Preservation Association, purchased the Black Horse Inn and started working toward its preservation.

The Underground Railroad Museum is housed in a 1930s bank building in downtown Flushing. It has experienced multiple roof leaks that have damaged the interior and placed the museum’s collection in jeopardy. By renovating the Black Horse Inn to house the collection, the current project brings the museum into a facility that actually existed during the time the “railroad” was in operation.