In October, 1890, an electric interurban railroad was running from Newark to Granville. The line wasn't opened to Zanesville until 1903 due to the difficulties cutting a pathway through the Black Hand Gorge. An interurban tunnel measuring 19 1/2 feet high and 327 feet long was blasted through the solid sandstone to complete the job. The interurban railroad was short lived due to the rising popularity of the automobile. The last interurban car ran through this tunnel on February 15, 1929.