Warren County
Local History by Dallas Bogan |
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Dallas Bogan on 8 August 2004 |
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original article by Dallas Bogan |
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Town names were often used in identifying the tavern or inn. Such names as
the Cincinnati Hotel or the Portland House in Sandusky are denoted as village
names.
Distances from one point to another were often used as tavern names such as
the "Four-Mile House" located on the National Road, relating the distance
west from the center of Columbus.
There were two noted "Five-Mile Houses" near Zanesville, one on the
National Road and the other on the old Lancaster and Maysville Pike south from
that city. Halfway Houses were also found to be in great numbers.
Reasoning for "The Golden Hive" in Dover is unknown, but it could
be implied that perhaps the gathering of a swarm of bees suggested the name.
John D. Rose and his son operated the "Golden Plough"
on High Street in Columbus. His advertisement read:
"There being a waggon-yard attached to the establishment, families traveling,
and large teams can at all times be accommodated. As the subscribers will devote
their undivided attention to this business, and will spare no pains to keep
good entertainment and a quite orderly house they hope to be liberally patronized."
Eight miles east of Columbus, on the old Cumberland Pike, was located a tavern
in the village of Hibernia. Possibly the proprietor, who displayed "The
Sign of the Harp," was an all- American figure who believed in doing business
under this meaningful sign.
Another common name for the taverns was "The Exchange," its name being
derived from the many horse exchange stops along the way, frequently at distances
of ten to twelve miles. "Colt's Exchange" in Sandusky was an illustration.
A man named Spafford kept "The Exchange" at Perrysburg.
Defiance also had a tavern by that name.
Joseph Tiffin, in 1803, gave up the "Wayne Tavern"
in Chillicothe to become the landlord of a new brick tavern on Water Street.
His new tavern, the sign of "The Seventeen Stars," was possibly a
symbol of the State of Ohio being entered into the Union as the seventeenth
state.
"The Sign of the Western Star" was the insignia used by James
Reeves at his Chillicothe inn. As a solicitation to the public in reference
to his business, he writes:
"Gentlemen Travellers may be accommodated with a useful and convenient
list of roads comprising the leading road from this place in all directions
corrected by the most accurate sources of information on the subject."
A Chillicothe paper of January, 1815, carried an announcement that Robert
Smether, dentist, wished to inform the ladies and gentlemen of the
city that he extracted and cleaned teeth, removing the causes of their decay,
and that he could cure the "scorbutic complaint" of the gums which
caused teeth to become loose. He would be seen at the "Bell Tavern,"
but would wait upon patients at their homes if they preferred.
"The Bell" was used as a tavern sign more in colonial America than
in Ohio. Colonel William H. Gault came to Newark in 1812 or
1814 and built a tavern on the south side of the public square, known as the
"Bell Tavern," whose sign depicted a large bell. Gault was an aspiring
man. He served as county commissioner, sheriff, auditor and represented the
county in both branches of the legislature at different times.
Jonathan Whitacre selected a very pleasing signboard emblem
in New Lisbon by the name of "The Rose Tree," the inn being established
in the early 1820's.
One of the leading tavern-keepers in Columbus, J.B. Gardiner,
named his tavern, in 1816, "The Ohio Tavern and Columbus Inn at the Sign
of the Rose-Tree." Three years later he had presumably shortened the name
to "The Sign of the Rose-Tree."
He informs the "Members of the Legislature and all others visiting the
seat of government, that he has taken a new lease of the premises occupied by
him for some years past and will continue to use his best exertions to render
satisfaction to those who may be pleased to resort to his house. His house is
in good order. He still keeps his old faithful hostler and is in every other
respect prepared to make the traveller and boarder comfortable." He finishes
his request by saying that "At the session of the Legislature next month,
he will be able to board a large number of the members on reasonable terms and
afford them very pleasant rooms."
The sign of "The Rose Tree" apparently attracted legislators in Columbus,
as did the sign of "The Orange Tree" located at the corner of Fifth
and Main Streets in Zanesville.
Another Zanesville tavern appeared in 1806 named, "The Globe." It
was the sign of the tavern owned by Benoni Peerce, and was
possibly the first symbol of its kind in the State.
William Williamson took over "The Globe Tavern" in
Ravenna in 1836. He likewise "assures the traveling public that no pains
will be spared to render comfortable the Weary Traveller to the Far West."
I. Gregg kept a hostelry on Basin Street in Hamilton named
"The Globe." He advertises:
"Large and commodious Stabling for any persons who wish their horses kept
while they travel on the Canal."
Signs of "ships" significance were among the larger and more populated
towns of Ohio. On St. Clair Street in Cleveland, "The Navy Hotel"
was recorded. "The Sign of the Ship" at Steubenville; "The Ship"
at Chillicothe; the "Steamboat Hotel" in Sandusky; and "The Hope
and Anchor" at Zanesville, all represented the sea-worthy craft.
Was the symbol, the "wheatsheaf," the insignia of Lord Burleigh
in old England, used in America by design or as incidental? William
H. Puthuff, of the town of Jefferson, Pickaway Plains, used this signboard
on his new brick tavern in the year 1811.
A few years prior to that a Mrs. Willis operated the tavern
business under the same sign on Main Street in Cincinnati, and in 1808 sold
out to William Stratton. It apparently became a center of sorts
for political or other town meetings, for on July 24, 1811, the Cincinnati newspaper,
The Liberty Hall announces a meeting of the Republican Association for the next
evening to be held at "The Sheaf of Wheat." In September of the same
year, a town meeting of the residents of Cincinnati is requested for Wednesday
evening "at the Wheat-Sheaf Tavern at 6 o'clock, to transact business of
importance."
The Masonic Lodge, under a warrant obtained from the Grand Lodge of New Jersey,
was established in Cincinnati as early as 1791, or with the actual founding
of the city itself. Other lodges sprung up in the Western Reserve at an early
date, so it is small wonder that some early taverns bore the Masonic emblems.
Eric Griswold, Jr., and Caleb Howard, from
Delaware, Ohio, were operating a tavern in the early part of the 19th Century
at "The Sign of Two Right Hands Join'd and other Masonic Emblems."
John Davenport carried on the tavern business in Circleville
whose logo was "Two Brazen Pillars and Other Masonic Emblems." Mr.
Davenport announced that "Measures will be taken for procuring the most
interesting publications from the various parts of the Union and every necessary
attention bestowed to render the situation of travelling Ladies and Gentlemen
agreeable while in his house."
Gallipolis had among its tavern names one that suggested a warm atmosphere,
"Our House." It had long used this name by the citizens of the town
when Harry Cushing, the owner, decided on a more elevated sounding
name of "The Rising Sun Inn," but the transformation didn't sell.
After a period of time, Mr. Cushing reversed his decision and let well enough
alone.
It was asked of the landlord why it was called "Our House." His response
was that, "It's the only hotel in town isn't it? It belongs to all of us,
doesn't it? Well, then its "Our House," isn't it?"
Certainly this fine dwelling was suitable for a King, but one dignitary stands
alone in his visit to the tavern, none other than Marquis de LaFayette
during his visit to America.
These old signboards are all but gone. One might find an occasional one in an
antique store, or perhaps in some museum, or some collector's memorabilia might
bring to light the signs of the past.
Of no importance to anyone, many were burned or thrown away into some garbage
heap as worthless items.
Ohio was, and still is, the gateway to the West. Without these community taverns
and their swinging and swaying signboards, the West would not have been what
it is today. "What wonder that in the onrush of progress so few of these
old relics remain."
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This page created 8 August 2004 and last updated
28 September, 2008
© 2004 Arne H Trelvik
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