History

History information is some background and history about the location. This is meant to be a basic summary. Below the history records you will find sources in which you can click on to find out more information. There may be multiple history records per location.

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This historic Old Stagecoach inn Is also known as the Palmyra Center Hotel. And sits on a corner in Palmyra, Ohio. It was built in 1832.

Originally it was a two-story Greek Revival-style brick red building. A third story was added in 1888 when it became a lodge for the Knights of Pythias fraternal organization. The Knights of Pythias occupied The Stagecoach Inn between 1888 & approx. 1960. It served as a private residence and store for most of the 20th century. The Palmyra Center Hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 30, 1976 and received its Ohio historical marker in 2002.

The building today is a red brick, three story building. It still features the original 1832 mailbox, door knobs and keyholes, welcome sign, and doorsteps to main entrance and tavern. Two of the original windows can still be found on the East side of the second floor and are distinguished from the others as there are many more panes of glass in them. There are actually 24 panes of glass in each of the original two windows. The wallpaper (where present) is also said to be original.

It is rumored that Abraham Lincoln gave a speech on the lawn of the building during his presidential campaign, and that Buffalo Bill Cody and his Wild West Show crew visited as well.

It is also rumored to have been a speakeasy at one time and a haven for runaway slaves by being part of the underground railroad utilizing a hidden door in the back of an upstairs closet that lead to the attic above the freight station on the west end of the building. Some former owners were the Geiger Sisters (Katherine and Elsie) and the Wilson Family. In the 1970's it was purchased by Nicholas Stone with the hopes of restoring it. After his death, it remained unoccupied for approximately 20 years.

It was then purchased September 20, 1994 by Douglas Rice for $12,000. He too hoped to restore it, but continued structural issues among other things have seemed to halt the process. Unfortunately the building remains vacant and crumbling at this time. The kitchen area floor even collapsed into the basement several years back.

Added by: sdonley on 08/09/2019 DB#:525
Source(s):
Marianne Donley

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Added by: sdonley on 08/09/2019 DB#:526
Source(s):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME2OH7ffnr8

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This historic inn began serving travelers on the old Portage-Columbiana stage road (now Tallmadge Road) in 1832. Two major stage lines, one from Cleveland to Wellsville (the closest Ohio River port) and the other from Cleveland to Pittsburgh, passed through Palmyra in the early 1800s. Originally a simple two-story Greek Revival-style building, it had its third story added in 1888 when it became a lodge for the Knights of Pythias fraternal organization. It served as a private residence and store for most of the 20th century. The Palmyra Center Hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Added by: arufener on 11/24/2014 DB#:191
Source(s):
http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?MarkerID=65428

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