First Traffic Fatality in Ohio/The National Road

First Traffic Fatality in Ohio/The National Road (HM8N6)

Location: Norwich, OH 43767 Muskingum County
Buy Ohio State flags at Flagstore.com!
Country: United States of America
Buy United States of America flags at Flagstore.com!

N 39° 59.231', W 81° 47.34'

  • 0 likes
  • 0 check ins
  • 0 favorites
  • 544 views
Inscription
First Traffic Fatality in Ohio
As he traveled the National Road on August 20, 1835, the last diary entry by Christopher C. Baldwin, librarian for the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, Massachusetts, was, "Start by stage on the Cumberland Road for Zanesville." Baldwin never reached Zanesville or his ultimate destination, which was to investigate prehistoric mounds in southern Ohio on behalf of the Antiquarian Society. On that day, near this site, he was killed in what is considered to be the first traffic fatality recorded in Ohio. While passing a drove of hogs on the road, the horses pulling the stage became unmanageable and when the driver tried to check their speed on a decline, the stage turned over. Baldwin was riding with the driver and was killed when the stage rolled over on him. Due to the lateness of the season and the distance from his home, his remains were interred in Norwich.

The National Road
Authorized by Congress in 1806, the National Road was the nation's first federally funded interstate highway. National leaders desired an all-weather road across the Allegheny Mountains in order to develop closer political and economic ties between the east and west. Considered to be a significant engineering feat, the Road opened Ohio and much of the Old Northwest Territory to settlement, provided access for Ohio goods to reach eastern markets, and enabled Ohio citizens to play important roles in the affairs of the new nation. The National Road was renowned for the number of quality inns and taverns during the heyday of the stagecoach. The Road declined after 1850 as railroads became the preferred method of travel. The automobile, however, brought new life to the Road. Reborn as U.S. 40, it became a busy twenty-four-hour-day artery, with truck stops, motor courts, and diners until superseded by the interstate highways in the 1960s.
Details
HM NumberHM8N6
Series This marker is part of the Ohio: Ohio Historical Society series, and the The Historic National Road series.
Tags
Marker Number15-60
Year Placed2006
Placed ByNational Road-Zane Grey Museum, American Antiquarian Society, and The Ohio Historical Society
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Sunday, September 28th, 2014 at 9:50pm PDT -07:00
Pictures
Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.
Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)17S E 432638 N 4426632
Decimal Degrees39.98718333, -81.78900000
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 39° 59.231', W 81° 47.34'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds39° 59' 13.86" N, 81° 47' 20.40" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)740
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 10639-10643 Main St, Norwich OH 43767, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

Is this marker missing? Are the coordinates wrong? Do you have additional information that you would like to share with us? If so, check in.

Nearby Markersshow on map
Check Ins  check in   |    all

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.

Comments 0 comments

Maintenance Issues
  1. What historical period does the marker represent?
  2. What historical place does the marker represent?
  3. What type of marker is it?
  4. What class is the marker?
  5. What style is the marker?
  6. This marker needs at least one picture.
  7. Can this marker be seen from the road?
  8. Is the marker in the median?