Belmont County Heritage Museum

09/06/2026

Experience Ohio’s educational heritage at the historic Great Western One-Room School. Built in 1870 and carefully restored, this preserved schoo

09/05/2026

The Belmont County Heritage Museum will be closed for the Fair next week. 🎡

We hope to see you at the Fair! 🎟️

Photo from the Times Leader Eastern Ohio’s Pictorial Past

“The Belmont County Centennial Fair was held in 1949 at the fairgrounds in STC.. SJ Gillogly is at the front left and Robert Po***ck, front right, behind a team of horses. The stage is located to the right as the parade unit passed in front of the grandstand. This was taken when the fair was held in STC and plans were made in the late 1990’s to move the county fair to a site on Roscoe Road near STC. Photo Courtesy/Nancy Gillogly”

The Museum will reopen on 9/17.
Regular Hours:
Thursday - Saturday
10-2

09/05/2026

Had a visitor that was originally from our County yesterday that enjoyed taking his time and reading the amazing signage here at the Museum.

You can always find fun facts that you didn’t know here at The Belmont County Heritage Museum!

Quote is from the actor Brad Pitt as it perfectly depicts the visitor!

09/04/2026

So surprising to find out that the Sheriff and his Wife could set up housekeeping only steps away from three floors of jail cells populated with criminals. (In Ohio, the sheriff was mandated to live in the residence attached to the jail.)

And also surprising that historically, in many rural American counties during the 19th and early-to-mid 20th centuries, it was standard practice for the sheriff's wife to serve as the jail's unofficial cook and matron. Because many county jails were built directly attached to or beneath the sheriff's residence, the sheriff's family lived on-site, and his wife was expected to prepare meals for the inmates using her own kitchen tools and recipes.

“- his wife often had just as much a hand in dealing with the criminals as he did. In counties where funds and resources were scarce, sheriff’s wives did everything from cooking meals and darning socks to booking prisoners and holding off angry lynch mobs with shotguns.”

From research, budgets precluded hiring help. The Wife or Jail Matron would initiate assistance from prisoners that weren’t serious offenders. And initially, the meals were home cooked meals for the family and inmates. I’m sure the meals transitioned to more industrial cafeteria like food as time went on.

The Sheriff’s Wife also was in charge of the female prisoners. Male deputies were strictly forbidden from physically searching female prisoners. The sheriff's wife was responsible for conducting these intake searches and processing female inmates into the facility. She held the keys to the women's quarters, conducted cell checks, and accompanied female inmates if they needed to leave their cells. She was expected to be available 24/7.

Plus raise her own family too! 😲

These women absolutely paved the way for future generations of women in law enforcement and corrections

I think that the Sheriff’s Wives certainly deserve a shout out, don’t you? 👏👊

Here at the Belmont County Sheriff’s Residence and Jail, for 90 years the Sheriffs and their Wives/Children lived in this home attached to the jail.

The Last Family: Sheriff George Neff (who served from 1960 to 1975) and his family were the very last to physically live in the residence before the practice was phased out in 1976.

And the only wife that is really mentioned is May K. Dunfee. In 1926, Sheriff William Dunfee died while in office. His wife, May K. Dunfee, who had already been living in the residence and serving as the jail's matron, was appointed to finish his term. (Kathy Crumbley was America’s first female sheriff to win a fully competitive, contested election.)

Note: Photos shared are not from this county except for the actual jail photos.
Excerpt is from Convicts in the Kitchen: Rural Jails in 1920’s and 1930’s America.

09/03/2026

Did you know?

That there used to be a large sign that greeted travelers in the late 1800’s entering our area that said…

“Belmont County - Home of the Jersey Cow”

In honor of the Belmont County Fair scheduled for next week, here’s an old photo recognizing the importance of farm animals.

‘It’s milking time on the JP Porterfield Farm on Route 56 in Belmont County. In 1807, cattle, horses and pigs were driven directly through the heart of St. Clairsville. Livestock was shown at the Belmont County Fair as early as 1850. Saturday was a big day for stock dealers with cattle sold for three to four and half pennies per pound in 1899. James Edgerton brought the first registered Jersey Cows to the area in 1860.’

🎡 What is your favorite part or memory about the Belmont County Fair?

🎟️ The 177th Belmont County Fair is scheduled for September 7 through
September 13, 2026.

Photo/Caption from Reflections of St. Clairsville, Ohio Ferren Studio of Photography

08/31/2026

There are some moments when a project suddenly feels very real. This is one of them. ❤️

The bronze sculpture and bench honoring Dr. John Mattox have been installed outside the Black Horse Inn in Morristown, future home of the Underground Railroad Experience at the Black Horse Inn, and seeing him there is even more meaningful than we imagined!

Dr. Mattox was more than a historian. He was a storyteller, educator, community leader and advocate who dedicated his life to preserving the stories of freedom seekers who traveled through Belmont County and the courageous people who helped them along their journey to freedom.

His impact on Belmont County is immeasurable.

Since 2019, the Belmont County Tourism Council has proudly honored his legacy through the annual Mattox Award, recognizing a Tourism Champion of the Year whose dedication and service have made a lasting contribution to our county. It is one small way we have worked to ensure that the values Dr. Mattox embodied: passion, preservation, education and service to community, continue to inspire others.

Now, his presence will welcome visitors to a place that carries forward so much of the work he devoted his life to.

Soon, visitors will be able to take a seat beside Dr. Mattox, reflect on the stories he worked tirelessly to preserve, and perhaps leave inspired to keep telling them.

We think he would be proud of what is taking shape here.

We can’t wait for you to see it.❤️Mark your calendars for the Underground Railroad Experience ribbon cutting on Friday, November 13th!

08/29/2026

Meet the staff of Martin’s Restaurant on May 9, 1940. Martin’s was located in the Clarendon Hotel which was built in 1890. The driver of the stage in the old days would blow a trumpet to designate how many there would be for supper to the owner of the hotel.

From Reflections of St. Clairsville, Ohio
Ferren Studio of Photography

08/28/2026

Great interview with Tom McCort! Going back in time is important, so we can see all the progress being made now. And to think that the Underground Railroad Museum will be opening soon at the Black Horse Inn.

Interview with Former Sheriff Tom McCort about the Blackhorse Inn i...

08/28/2026

The Museum’s Framed Photo of the Saint Clairsville Class of 1957.

Do you know someone in this Class? Share Below!

08/27/2026

Happy National Dog Day (a day late) to all Dogs everywhere & especially to Jersey who is Belmont County’s Therapy K-9 at the courthouse!

She serves as a courtroom K-9, primarily easing stress for child victims, trauma survivors, and witnesses during difficult legal proceedings.

Handler: Jersey is handled and owned by Sheriff's Deputy Jennifer Yuhase.

🐾❤️🇺🇸⭐️