The recent severe flooding afflicting much of Ohio has been particularly acute in Tuscarawas County, where waters have threatened historic Zoar Village, one of Ohio’s most significant and intact historic sites. Zoar was founded by a group of religious dissidents calling themselves “the Society of Separatists of Zoar,” who had escaped from persecution in Germany. Several original Society buildings remain in Zoar, which was founded in 1818; nine of the buildings are restored and are operated by the Ohio Historical Society.

Because of the threat, “operation gravel blanket” involved an emergency water release from Dover Dam, as well as extensive buttressing of the Zoar Levee. Unfortunately, several homes in Dover were partially flooded as a result of the action taking, according to this article, a “hit to save Zoar.” And, despite these best efforts, several of the structures in Zoar have flooded basements and at least one has suffered structural damage, according to the Ohio Historical Society, which is maintaining a careful eye on the situation.

Click here to visit Historic Zoar Village.online, click here for a virtual tour of the community hosted by the Zoar Community Association, and click here for more coverage of the flood control efforts.

Photo:  House, Zoar Village -- wahig/Creative Commons License