Trip Report: Southwest Ohio History part 1

Last Friday I decided to go on a road trip and tour a couple of regional museums that I’d been meaning to visit for a while.

The Warren County Historical Society, in the Warren Co. seat of Lebanon, Ohio, is situated near the main crossroads of the town. It’s just down the street from the Golden Lamb, a tavern dating back to 1803. The museum is in some ways a typical local history exhibit and archive, but with three levels of displays and an emphasis on the county’s early settlers and large Shaker population, it surpasses what most roadside museums have to offer.
The visitor enters the old public building that houses the museum, and after dispensing with a five dollar entrance fee is ushered into the basement to file through the displays.

A Franklinton "Best Western" 1812

New Tavern.

The subscriber begs leave to inform his friends and the publick in general, that he has lately opened a Tavern in the brick house of Mrs. Overdear, immediately back of the Court House in Franklinton, where he intends keeping a house of Entertainment for Travelers, or others who may choose to call on him. He intends keeping all kinds of liquors; his table shall be furnished with such as the country affords, prepared in the best manner; his bedding shall not be inferior to any in the country; his stable is large, and laid off into 24 different stalls, and shall at all times be furnished with the best of hay and oats.

The subscriber flatters himself, that from the experience he has had in that line of business, and the care and attention which he shall pay to the traveller, as well as his horse, that he shall recieve a large share of the public patronage.

Thomas McCollum.
Franklinton, May 8th 1812.
(from the Worthington Western Intelligencer)