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Progress on display at Anchorage

Overlooking Harmar Village on the west side of the Muskingum River the imposing visage of The Anchorage sits atop the hill on George Street adorned with holiday lights.

“The display outside is dedicated to the reason for Christmas, our savior, the Washington County Historical Society and the citizens of Marietta,” said Howie Baker, 45, of Marietta, who put up the lights.

Baker, owner of Bubby Construction, has worked in tandem with Stuart Diamond, executive director of the society, to rehabilitate the historic home. Work on the roof began last summer and now interior work continues on the floors, on the heating system and on the plaster on the walls.

Now just a week out from the open house weekend for the Tuscan-style sandstone and brick home, the pair are working to showcase progress made this year and inspire further investment in its rehabilitation.

“We’ll give tours, there will be a presentation with a hands-on craft opportunity to make time-era Christmas ornaments, there will be holiday music playing and some hot chocolate to warm you from the chill,” explained Diamond.

Hot chocolate is a staple of the house’s history from the time of Edward MacTaggart who, until his passing in 1952, allowed the local children to sled along the hill of his estate at The Anchorage.

“When the kids would sled ride in the winters, he would have his butler bring them hot chocolate and listen to their laughter,” said Diamond.

That tradition of sledding and hot cocoa continued in later years as the building served as a nursing home.

“My grandmother lived here in her final years and my childhood memories are of this building,” said Baker. “That’s why I’m so invested in restoring it, my grandmother would be so proud.”

But the history of the home dates back further than the MacTaggarts and further restoration will honor both his time in the house as well as the original inspiration for the masterpiece, Eliza Putnam.

“Douglas Putnam built the house for his first wife Eliza, and we want to restore her bedroom overlooking the town as part of the areas open to the public in coming years,” explained Diamond.

The Putnams moved into the home in 1859 after several years of both quarrying the sandstone from the bank behind the structure and building the double-bricked walls.

Diamond currently lives in the home as caretaker with his son, in part to deter break-ins as the work continues indoors.

“As the money comes in and we continue to fix each room, the caretaker rooms will be in the old servant quarters and a few of the bedrooms upstairs will serve as the headquarters of the society,” he said.

“But for now we are focusing on running a gas line to the front parlor and efficiently heating the place before next dismantling the elevator shaft and restoring the front to its original design.”

The open house for The Anchorage will run from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. both Dec. 17 and 18.

If you go

¯ What: Open House at The Anchorage

¯ Where: 424 George St., Marietta.

¯ When: Dec. 17 and 18, 2 to 6 p.m.

¯ Cost: Free and open to the public.

¯ For more information visit wchs-ohio.org or call 740-373-1788.

Source: Stuart Diamond, Washington County Historical Society.

 

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