Tag Archives: tavern

Red Brick Tavern in London, Ohio

“If these walls could talk….”   I must have heard this saying at least ten times while I was enjoying a Prime Rib special at the Red Brick Tavern in London, Ohio.

Of course, I agree, but I had not really given it much thought.  The three-story tavern and roadside inn was built by the Minter family in the late 1830s and was a popular stop for Americans in search of opportunities out west.  William and Mary settled here with their nine children in the town they named Lafayette, halfway between Columbus and Springfield.

Most would travel the muddy road known as the National Road which originated from Cumberland, Maryland to include Stanley Watson from Connecticut.  Stanley wed Effa Minter, was given a parcel of land from her father on which the Red Brick Tavern was built in 1836 and was then leased to John McMullen.

Designed in the style of Old English Manor, the Red Brick Tavern originally offered twenty-four rooms for travelers, while the ground level housed the kitchen and dining room.  It was a “reversed L” structure where the front of the building faced the National Road and a narrow section extended along the side street. The third story was the private residence of the family and could be accessed by a stairway with four rooms were located under the gables of the front wing.

According to a placard outside,  the Red Brick Tavern entertained six United States Presidents to include John Quincy Adams, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor and Warren G. Harding.

Eventually the property would revert back to the Minter family in February of 1854 and would be passed on to the next generation where it would become a school and a rental property.  By 1923, the property would no longer remain in the Minter family and would  sold to become a tearoom and restaurant.

Today, the Red Brick Tavern thrives as a restaurant owned by Cris Cummins and Madonna Christy who purchased the property in 2007.

Known for their home cooked meals, local residents fill the dining room for their daily specials and desserts.  I was excited to learn that in addition to dinner rolls, the restaurant also served cinnamon rolls before the meal.

The Red Brick Tavern had come full circle and was once again a restaurant.  I was happy to visit on Friday night for their Prime Rib special that included a side dish, rolls and dessert.

This little historic gem has been a witness to  American history with the building of the National Road and for hosting several Presidents of the United States and now it was going to witness me eat their perfectly prepared, medium-rare steak, followed by a slice of their decadent peanut butter pie.

Have you visited the Red Brick Tavern in Lafayette?   I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Thank you for reading about my visit to Red Brick Tavern and wishing you many Happy Travels.

What to See and What to Do: 

Red Brick Tavern
1700 Cumberland Street
London, Ohio  43140
Telephone;  614 200 5447

Go on Friday and/or Saturday night for their prime rib special and save room for dessert!

Old Stone House, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

Over the weekend, we passed the Old Stone House in Slippery Rock several times that we made plans to stop by the house on our way back to Ohio.  The home, a two-story, six-bay structure made of sandstone was built by John Brown in 1822 and is today, a museum of rural life.

Perfectly situated at the crossroads of the Pittsburgh-Franklin and Butler Mercer Pikes, it was the perfect location as a stagecoach stop and tavern for those who were moving away from the east coast.  First, a small log tavern provided ale and food to travelers, but when the family home was completed, it became a historic inn.

Within its interior are three rooms on the first story, each room fitted with its own fireplace and exterior entrance.  Upstairs is one large room which is separated by curtains.  The 2 story wooden porch is accessible from each level.

The stone structure may have already existed when Brown purchased the property and may have been used as a tavern room for travelers passing by.  Locals would also arrive to the tavern to meet with the travelers in hopes of news from other states.  The tavern would have offered food and drink and an overnight stay when room was available.

Of course, not only did the Stone House attract everyday travelers, highway bandits were also known to hang around the taverns and stagecoach stops.  A list of rules was posted to reduce rowdy behavior and local disturbances.

There were two separate counterfeit gangs who were known to hang around The Old Stone House, led by a man nicknamed “Old Man North Pole”.

According to historian, Brad Pfugh, the Mohawk/Wigton story has ties to the Old Stone House as Mohawk journeyed by stagecoach to the town of Butler.  Roaming around town, it is said he stopped by the Kiester House, a local tavern where he was given milk.  He fell asleep and after awaking, returned to the Old Stone House where he fought the owner who would not serve him alcohol.  Mohawk spent the night outside not far from the Old Stone House and at some point, visited the Wigton family home.  Mrs. Wigton was alone as her husband had left town that day and Mohawk killed her and her family then fled.  Mohawk was eventually captured and hung on March 22, 1844.

With the invention of railroads, the stagecoach stops were no longer needed for travelers, so the Old Stone House became a family farmstead in the 1870s.   By 1918, it was abandoned and hidden beneath the underbrush, in need of repair where eventually, only the north wall and chimney were left.

In 1963, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy restored the property with the help of Charles M. Stotz a local Pittsburgh architect and converted the space into a museum for the next 20 years.  The 1980’s recession led the Conservancy to consider selling the property  but the local community was outraged as it had poured large donations into its restoration.  They came up with a solution to allow Slippery Rock University to rent the property, maintain its condition and manage its tourist events.   With this agreement, Old Stone House is available for visitors to learn more about rural life in Western Pennsylvania.

Have you had the opportunity to visit the Old Stone House in Slippery Rock?  I would love to hear your thoughts about the property if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my stop at Old Stone House and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do: 

Old Stone House
865 William Flynn Highway
Slippery Rock, PA 16057
Telephone: 724 738 4964

Where to Stay: 

Springhill Suites by Marriott Pittsburgh Butler/Centre City
125 East Jefferson Street
Butler, PA  16001
Telephone:  844 207 5336

Where to Eat: 

Reclamation Brewery
221 South Main Street
Butler, PA  16001
Telephone:  724 790 4370

What to Eat: 

  • Pierogie Pizza

What to Read: 

  • Rage, Murder and Execution! The Story of Sam Mohawk and the Wigton Family Massacre, by Bradley Pflugh
  • An Unconventional Life, 1815 – 1884, by Jane Grey Swisshelm