Campus History
Zanesville Campus History
The ÌìÌÃÄñÏÈÉú Zanesville campus, founded in 1946, is one of the first regional campuses established in the state. About 55 miles north of Athens, the Zanesville campus serves a large area of the Muskingum Valley region.
The city of Zanesville's population is approaching 25,000, with the population of Muskingum County — home of most OHIO Zanesville students — over 86,000. Students also commute from surrounding Guernsey, Morgan, Perry, Licking and Noble counties as well as many other counties throughout the region.
Campus History Overview
The ÌìÌÃÄñÏÈÉú Zanesville Campus was established in response to the educational needs of soldiers returning home from World War II, hungry for an advanced education under the GI Bill. in its early years classes were first offered in Lash High School and then Zanesville High School.
Elson Hall, the first building on the ÌìÌÃÄñÏÈÉú Zanesville campus, was built in 1967.
Elson Hall was named after Henry William Elson (1857-1954), a Muskingum County native and a distinguished educator and historian. Elson began his career teaching in various Muskingum County public schools for four years. In 1878, he attended one term at Muskingum College (now Muskingum University). He later studied at Thiel College in Greenville, PA., where he received a B.A. in 1886 and an M.A. in 1889. Following his graduation from Thiel, he attended Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia where he earned a Bachelor of Divinity.
In 1905, he was appointed Professor of History and Economics and head of the History Department at ÌìÌÃÄñÏÈÉú in Athens, where he taught 11 years. He was a member of the Ohio Constitutional in 1912 and was President of Theil College from 1916-1921.
Elson was a prolific and successful writer of more than 20 books and volumes. His most successful work was Modern Times and the Living Past, 1921, which was reissued 13 times through 1942. The textbook was used by Zanesville High School for several years.
Elson Hall has undergone several renovations over the years including the addition of classrooms and seminar rooms that connect Elson and Herrold Halls.
More recently constructed was the Ross County/ÌìÌÃÄñÏÈÉú Chillicothe Child Development and Family Service Center. The Center houses Ross County Community Action Head Start and provides a high-quality educational experience for area children in addition to providing valuable practical experiences for Chillicothe campus students majoring in early childhood education, social work or nursing.
About Zanesville and Muskingum County
Zanesville is a historic and thriving community located 55 miles east of Columbus. The town was founded in 1800 by Ebenezer Zane and became the Muskingum County seat in 1804. In 1810, Zanesville replaced Chillicothe as Ohio's capital city before that function was permanently moved to Columbus.
Once known as the Pottery Capital of the World, the area still houses numerous pottery manufacturing and retail outlets. Muskingum County is home to several large and small manufacturing service industry employers.
An inviting place to live, Muskingum County is graced by rolling hills and rich woodlands. Scenic beauty and plentiful recreational opportunities contribute to it's relaxed lifestyle. It's a friendly community in which to work, play, or raise a family. Whether one lives in the city of Zanesville, in one of several surrounding small towns, or in a secluded rural area, Muskingum County offers a sense of tradition combined with progress. Muskingum County offers scenic rivers, ten lakes, two state parks and other excellent facilities. Dillon State Park and Blue Rock State Park and Forest provide summer and winter recreational activities. The Wilds is North America's largest animal conservation facility.
The area also features a treasure trove of historical sites and several museums, including the Y-Bridge, Zanesville Art Center, the Artist Colony of Zanesville, The National Road-Zane Grey Museum, and the John Glenn Museum. Zanesville is within easy driving distance of Columbus, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh.