Newcom Tavern facts for kids
Newcom Tavern is a very old building in Dayton, Ohio. It's also called the "Old Cabin." This historic place is the oldest building still standing in Dayton. It was built in 1796 by Colonel George Newcom and his wife, Mary. They used it as a tavern, which was like a restaurant and hotel for travelers.
Over the years, many people owned the building. Its important history was almost forgotten. But then, during some construction, its original log walls were found! The building has been moved twice. Today, you can find it in Dayton's Carillon Historical Park. It is now a museum where you can learn about early Dayton.
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How Dayton Began
Dayton started as a project by the New Jersey Land Company. Jonathan Dayton led this group. His partners included General Wilkinson, General St. Clair, and Colonel Ludlow. They hired people to map out a new town. This town was planned to be between the two Miami Rivers.
Building the Tavern
The First Structure
The Newcom Tavern was built in 1796 for Colonel George Newcom. He was one of the first settlers in Dayton. This happened after the Treaty of Greenville in 1795. Colonel Newcom was a very important person. He was Dayton's first sheriff, a state senator, and even a bank president. His wife, Mary, helped him run the tavern.
A builder named Robert Edgar constructed the tavern. He was paid 75 cents a day for his work. Edgar stayed with the Newcoms in their small cabin while building. He paid for his room and food with one deer each week.
Early Uses of the Tavern
The original building had two rooms. There was one room downstairs and one upstairs. You had to use a ladder to get to the upstairs room. The tavern was first located at what is now Main and Monument Streets.
Two years later, the Newcoms made the cabin twice as big. They added a tavern part to earn money. For 65 cents, a person and their horse could get food and a place to sleep. This building was very important to early Dayton. It was the city's first school and first church. It also served as a courthouse and a meeting place for the town council. Church services were held there for three years. After 1799, a blockhouse was built, and services moved there.
The tavern became well-known as a stop for travelers. Pioneers and people moving livestock used it in the Northwest Territory. During the War of 1812, Colonel Robert Patterson used it as his main office. In 1815, the Newcoms sold the tavern. It had several owners before Joseph Shaffer bought it. He ran a general store there until 1894.
Moving to Van Cleve Park
Rediscovering History
Over time, the log walls of the tavern were covered with wooden boards. People forgot its historical importance. In 1894, an architect named Charles Insco Williams planned to tear it down. He wanted to build an apartment building there. But when the boards were removed, the old log structure was found! The tavern's history was rediscovered.
The building's owner gave it to the city. John Patterson, who owned National Cash Register (now NCR), gave money to move it. In 1896, the building was moved to Van Cleve Park. This park is now called RiverScape MetroPark. The Centennial Celebration Committee helped with the move. The Daughters of the American Revolution raised money to fix it up.
A Public Museum
In 1896, Newcom Tavern opened as a public museum. It displayed old items donated by people in Dayton. The building survived the big Great Dayton Flood in 1913. A Civil War veteran named Frederick Phillip Beaver left $10,000 in his will for the building's care in 1936.
Moving to Carillon Park
In 1962, the Dayton and Montgomery County Historical Society owned the building. They decided to move it again. The Van Cleve Park location did not have enough parking. In October 1964, the Tavern was moved to Carillon Historical Park. It joined the Pioneer House there. This created a "Settlement Exhibit" for visitors.
The move was a big job. It took twelve hours to move the building just two miles. The moving crew had to take a five-mile route. They even crossed the Great Miami River twice! Getting the building past Mound Street and West Fifth Street took an hour and a half.
The Newcom Tavern reopened in May 1965. Its ownership went to Educational and Music Arts, Inc. This group manages Carillon Park. Members of the Newcom family were at the ceremony. The woman who was born in the building in 1883 was also there. Today, only the lower level of the tavern is open to visitors.
