JANELLE PATTERSON The Marietta Times Donald Sampson, of Waterford, visits with Edgewater Cafe owners Dave and Lisa Mason Friday in Oak Grove.

The neighborhood developed after B.F. Goodrich Chemical Company expanded and brought a new plant to the outskirts of Marietta in 1943.

“Everybody that worked there wanted to live nearby,” explained Tony Lang, owner of Lang’s Flooring in Oak Grove. “That’s how the houses started getting built up.”

The community sits north of Marietta along the western bank of Muskingum River in Muskingum Township and Lang lives just a half mile from his shop on Township Road 4.

It’s a small subdivision, surrounded by farms, industry, family-owned businesses and intermittent woods.

Houses sit on an acre or two of land, with large yards, medium-length driveways and abutting smaller gardens and corn fields.

Lang says Oak Grove is “close-knit,” a common description among residents of the area and those who work in the community.

“You’re still out in the country but have that togetherness, that tight-knit quality,” said Dave Mason, co-owner of the Edgewater Cafe in Oak Grove. “It’s six miles from here to the (Washington County) Courthouse but you’re not in the city and it’s still a family community.”

Mason and his wife Lisa bought the cafe in January 2016, not only because of the location, but also its place in their love story.

“We met through the previous owner,” said Lisa. “Our 24th anniversary is Sunday.”

In the 25 years the pair have been residents of the community they say they’ve noticed how people look out for each other, and families take care of their own.

The couple describe their restaurant as a “living room” for the community, a sentiment echoed by Donald Sampson, of Waterford.

“It’s a lovely place to visit with good friends and good drinks and wonderful bar owners,” he said. “And very good food.”

Further development of the area seems to have stalled with most residential land occupied and farmlands staying within families.

“But a bridge would be excellent,” added Lang. “It would open up Oak Grove and bring people easier from Devola and Whipple without the congestion in Marietta. They’ve been talking about putting one in for years but nothing came of that.”

The proposed intermodal connector, dubbed the “North Muskingum River Crossing and Corridor” was a plan discussed at the county and state level for years in the early 2000s but was tabled in February 2008 after studies showed a lack of funding for the estimated $82 million project. If ever funded, officials planned to connect Ohio 60 and 821 to the western side of the Muskingum River north of Marietta and connect to Ohio 7.

Washington County Commissioner Rick Walters said no discussions on the bridge have occurred since he’s been in office, but in the Wood-Washington-Wirt Interstate Planning Commission 2040 Transportation Plan Update published in October 2016, the bridge was still in the plans.

Muskingum Township Trustee and Oak Grove resident Ken Schilling said he doesn’t see the plan coming to pass though.

“With the state of funding in Ohio I really don’t see that coming up in our future,” he said. “But the community would benefit from a grocery-like convenience store out here, Someplace that you could go quickly to grab hamburger buns or school supplies without having to drive all the way into town.”

For now, many local residents enjoy the quiet of the neighborhood and sing the praises of the community’s volunteer fire department.

“They’ve saved my sister’s life a couple times, they have been there for the house fires over the years, they’re always at the community events,” said Dena Huck, of Huck’s Cabinets in Oak Grove.

But drive by the corner on B.F. Goodrich Road where the volunteer station sits back from the road by Oak Grove Christian School, and there’s a sign stating the need for more volunteers.

“The challenge is finding enough volunteer firefighters and paramedics as ours age,” said Dave Mason.

Huck added that she hopes younger generations of adults in the community answer that call.

“They’re looking for them to step up and participate,” she said.

Schilling said the fire department also has begun to physically outgrow its location.

“That building was built when fire trucks were smaller,” he explained. “So there’s a need for wider doors and larger bays that will need to be addressed five to 15 years down the road and put into a long-range plan.”

He also explained that the need for volunteers is centered more in the daylight hours.

“They’re really challenged to fill all the spots, like make volunteer departments, during regular work hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” he said. “But the firemen we have do a great job and support themselves over and above what the township provides and have been a key part of the community.”

Otherwise, the general consensus seems to be that the roads are well attended to, the community is safe and its residents look after each other.

“It’s home and I see it staying the same size,” said Huck.

Oak Grove

snapshot

Oak Grove Census Data:

¯ Median Household Income: $52,533.

¯ Housing: 83 percent owner-occupied.

¯ Population:

¯ 65 and older: More than 20 percent.

¯ In the labor force: 57.3 percent.

¯ In professional, scientific and technical industry: 2.8 percent.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Businesses/organizations in Oak Grove:

¯ Ashland RV Park.

¯ Ash-Hanson Flowers and Wedding Innovations.

¯ Doak Laser Cutting and Engraving.

¯ Edgewater Cafe.

¯ Huck’s Cabinets.

¯ Joe Momma’s Kitchen.

¯ Lang’s Flooring.

¯ Marietta Silos.

¯ Oak Grove Christian School.

¯ Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department.

¯ ProFusion Industries.

¯ Stacy’s Family Farm.

¯ AEP Ohio.

Source: Times research.