Piatt Castles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Abram S. Piatt House and Donn S. Piatt House
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Mac-O-Chee and Mac-A-Cheek castles
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 10051 Township Road 47 (Mac-A-Cheek); 2223 OH 287 (Mac-o-Chee), Monroe Township, Logan County, Ohio |
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| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | 1864 |
| Architect | William McCoy Piatt; Kenton G. Haver |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Flemish |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003604 |
| Added to NRHP | May 3, 1982 |
The Piatt Castles are two amazing historic houses in Logan County, Ohio. They are located near the town of West Liberty. Two brothers, Donn and Abram S. Piatt, built these homes in the 1860s and 1870s. They designed them to look like old Gothic castles.
The castles are about one to two miles east of West Liberty. In 1982, these special houses were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. Both houses used to be open to the public as historic house museums. The Piatt family owned them for a long time.
One of the castles, Mac-O-Chee, was sold in October 2019. This sale helped to pay for fixing up the other castle, Mac-A-Cheek. Mac-A-Cheek is still owned by the Piatt family and you can visit it today.
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The Piatt Family Story
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The Piatt family came from France a long time ago. They were French Huguenots, which means they were Protestants who had to leave their home country. They faced unfair treatment because of their religion. The family moved to the United States and settled in New Jersey.
The grandfather of Abram and Donn was named Jacob Piatt. He helped the country during the American Revolutionary War. As a reward, the new government gave Jacob land in Kentucky. He built his home there.
Jacob was a farmer, and his son Benjamin became a lawyer. The family also traded goods on flat boats along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. They also bought and sold land. In 1828, Benjamin moved his family to Logan County, Ohio. He built a log cabin for them there. Donn was 9 years old and Abram was 7 when they moved to Ohio.
Discovering the Piatt Castles
The building of Mac-O-Chee and Mac-A-Cheek began in 1864. Donn Piatt built Mac-O-Chee, and John L. Smithmeyer designed it. Abram Piatt built Mac-A-Cheek. Mac-A-Cheek was finished in 1871, and Mac-O-Chee was completed in 1879.
These two homes are only about three-quarters of a mile apart. Abram's home, Mac-A-Cheek, is a bit smaller. It is also more hidden away from the main road. Donn's home, Mac-O-Chee, is larger and sits closer to the road.
Both castles have three stories and tall towers. Inside, they have beautiful painted ceilings and fancy wooden designs. An old book from 1880 said that Mac-O-Chee looked like a "baronial splendor." This means it was very grand and impressive. The castles are also close to where the Shawnee village of Mackachack used to be. This is where Simon Kenton was once captured by Native Americans.
Mac-O-Chee Castle Sale
On July 26, 2019, the Piatt family announced that Mac-O-Chee would be sold. They said it was very expensive to keep up and fix both castles. So, they decided to sell one of them.
On October 19, 2019, Mac-O-Chee Castle was sold at an auction. Brothers Ryan and Jason Cole from West Liberty, Ohio, bought it. They also bought many old items from the estate. The Piatt family planned to use the money from this sale. This money helps them to restore and take care of their other castle, Mac-A-Cheek.
Visiting the Castles Today
Tours of Mac-A-Cheek castle started in 1912. This was four years after Abram Piatt passed away. William McCoy Piatt, Abram's fourth son, inherited the home. He had collected many interesting old items and artifacts.
William had a special cabinet built to show off his collection. Then, he opened his home to visitors who wanted to see his "curiosity cabinet." This is how the family started their tourism business. At first, it was a small part of their family business. They also had a farm and a mill on the property.
The family continued to live in the home and offer tours until 1985. After that, they moved out, but tours of Mac-A-Cheek are still offered to the public. The Piatt family still owns and manages the museum at Mac-A-Cheek. It is a popular place for weddings, parties, and other special events.
