Welcome to the Pennsylvania House

On the Main Trail West
Representative of an era in American history, this fine old Federal structure, The Pennsylvania House, stands at the junction of the National Road and the old Dayton-Springfield Pike. The National Road was one of the main trails of the westward bound pioneers during the great transcontinental surge of the early eighteen hundreds. Along this road many inns sprang up to serve the travelers. The Pennsylvania House is one of only a few that have endured from that time in our nation's history.

Pioneers and Freight Drivers
The Dayton-Springfield Pike connected central Ohio with Dayton. From there, other routes led to Cincinnati. Freight wagons were common to this road taking their produce to Cincinnati for shipment to New Orleans by river boat. Situated in a triangle of land between the two roads, travelers from both highways would seek its shelter.

Origin Unknown
The exact date of construction of the inn and the reason for its unusual name are not known. Evidence, however, indicates that it was built in the mid 1820s with the west portion being added later. The name could have resulted from the homesickness of an early innkeeper whose native state was Pennsylvania or from a desire to attract the numerous Pennsylvanians traveling on the National Road.

Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, and Thomas Corwin stayed at the inn during its heyday. Dr. Isaac K. Funk, founder of the well known Funk and Wagnalls, lived there as a boy when his family operated the inn in the 1840s.

1930s: Dilapidated, Condemned
The coming of the railroads in 1846 caused the traffic on the National Road to diminish. Traffic became so sparse and patrons so few that the inn was forced to close in 1869. After its closing, the inn served a variety of uses, a sanitarium, boarding house, and combination antique and junk shop. By the 1930s, it was in almost complete disrepair. After this era in the inn's history, there was a movement to have the building condemned. After condemnation, the Lagonda Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution stepped in to preserve this historic landmark.

The title was acquired for a nominal sum from Mr. Albert G. Schmidt and Mr. Louis M. Wilcox, the owners at that time, and a campaign to raise the necessary restoration funds was undertaken. In 1940, the restoration was complete.

Gifts of antique and period furniture as well as collections have filled the building with many interesting and varied displays. A subsequent campaign was held in 1969 for further preservation work.

Three rooms on the third floor opened in mid-1989. The Pennsylvania House is the first of several sites in the area to be placed on the Ohio Historical Society preservation list. The property, with its three stories, four porches, sixteen exterior doors, and tall chimneys, is an imposing sight. Of its 23 rooms, 14 are on display. The Lagonda Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is proud to have saved this important part of American history.

© Photos courtesy of Charles A. Thomas, all rights reserved.