Zion’s Church
The cornerstone for this, the oldest remaining public building in Marietta, was laid in 1818 on land deeded to the borough by David Cook, founder of the section of town originally called New Haven. One hundred seventy subscribers donated $1,477 for the construction which was finally completed in 1823. (James Buchanan, the 15th president of the United States was among the contributors.) The structure was located on the west side of the local cemetery and was for the use of all denominations.
A noted evangelist, Lorenzo Dow, preached the first sermon using a carpenter’s bench for his pulpit. Presbyterians, German Reformed, Lutherans and Episcopalians all worshiped here. The most frequent users, the Lutherans and German Reformed, were permitted to install an organ in 1854. The Washingtonian Movement, a religiously oriented temperance organization, also met here. It was last used as a place of worship in 1976.
In 1984, Marietta Restoration Associates, Inc. leased the building for 99 years from the borough and oversaw the restoration. Community Development Funds were used to restore the exterior to its original Federal architectural appearance. Evidence of a hitherto unknown belfry was discovered during replacement of the roof, and a suitable design was created based on research of other similar building in the area. The galleries were retained on the interior, although they were a later addition probably dating from about 1850. The floor shows evidence that the pews originally faced the north wall.
Marietta Restoration Associates rents the Union Meeting House for public or private use. It has excellent acoustics and lends itself to uses from weddings and reunions to lectures and catered events.