New Concord and Norwich, Bloomfield, Rix Mills: Stations on the National Road — A Sesquicentennial History (1828 - 1978)

• Produced by the Muskingum College Archives (New Concord, Ohio)

• Authors: Lorle Ann Porter, Ph.D., Archivist, and Galen R. Wilson, Archivist Assistant

• Format: Stapled paper chapbook/pamphlet

• Features: Historic photos of Zane's Trace and local landscapes, township family name registers, and a handwritten index of local landmarks (like Bethel Methodist Church and Crooked Creek Cemetery) on the inside cover.

Historical Context

This booklet was compiled to celebrate the 150th anniversary of these specific settlements along the historic National Road (U.S. Route 40) in Muskingum County, just east of Zanesville.

The lead author, Dr. Lorle Ann Porter (1938–2019), was an absolute legend in East-Central Ohio historical circles. She was a beloved, long-time history professor at Muskingum University and wrote the definitive books on the region, including The National Road: Main Street of America and histories of the local Amish communities. Anything with her name on it carries immediate academic and regional authority.

The content covers foundational local history:

• Zane’s Trace: The early frontier foot trail cut by Ebenezer Zane in 1797.

• Early Settlement: Details on how Rich Hill township and New Concord were carved out of dense timber by early German and Presbyterian Covenanter pioneers.

• Genealogy Goldmine: It specifically lists early settler surnames like Stichler, Reasoner, Wilson, Speer, Findley, McVey, McNaughton, Shourds, and Crow.