The Old Stone House of Butler County
Old Stone House History (1822-1918)
Historic societies over the course of time have preserved many local, state, and national establishments throughout our country. Although sometimes many of these historic sites do not have the priveledge to be restored due to lack of funding which can be contributed to the downfall of our economy. In present day we are still facing economic challenges, and it will be very hard to preserve future projects because they are of not of greater importance right now. In Brady Township of Butler County, there sits upon a hillside, The Old Stone House which bypasses route 8. I first came to notice this site while I was driving past it on my way to Slippery Rock University. I knew little about its importance, and did not know that Slippery Rock is now the owner of the building. On the day I traveled past it, I witnessed a reenactment going on outside of the house. At this point I knew this was a topic of concern for myself.
The land where the stone house sits was first purchased by the Douglas Family in 1798. Constructed of logs, they built the primary house for entertainment, which in later years was known as the John Elliot Tavern. John Brown of Oliver then took over in 1822, who is mainly the most historical person of this place as he made it into this historic site. It was a "drovers inn" which meant that it wasn't just for entertainment, but for farmers and other travelers in need of a place to stay between their travels from Pittsburgh to Erie. The trip alone back then to those two points was estimated to be thirty six hours. It was a great locatation for business as it was right in between Pittsburgh and Erie on the Venango Trail. It housed, in the time it operated, a variety of travelers from soldiers to statesmen, stage drivers, judges, lumbermen, cattle owners, oilmen, and even criminals.
The house consisted of a kitchen, parlor, and a dining room on the first floor. On the second floor it was one large sleeping area for all that was partioned off by curtains. As one of the best known stage coaches of Western Pennsylvania it also ran a post office. Inn's back in these times served as gathering places for many different people for their varieties of business, and for pleasure. The Old Stone House had many rules as well for a person during their stay. Signs that stood outside of the house stated that ' no more than five to sleep in a bed, and no dogs allowed in the kitchen.' This house offered travelers a meal and a bed from 1822-1885.
After the Civil War, the Stone House was advertised in the Butler Eagle newspaper for rent to tenants. Samuel Gill once lived there and on Sundays prepared family chicken dinners in the late 1880s. Through this time until 1918, many tenants came through this area using the land and the house. Over time and after 1918, the Stone House had been neglected and was in ruins for many years. As a sore site to the public for many years, an Old Stone House Restoration Committee was formed to restore this old site.
The land where the stone house sits was first purchased by the Douglas Family in 1798. Constructed of logs, they built the primary house for entertainment, which in later years was known as the John Elliot Tavern. John Brown of Oliver then took over in 1822, who is mainly the most historical person of this place as he made it into this historic site. It was a "drovers inn" which meant that it wasn't just for entertainment, but for farmers and other travelers in need of a place to stay between their travels from Pittsburgh to Erie. The trip alone back then to those two points was estimated to be thirty six hours. It was a great locatation for business as it was right in between Pittsburgh and Erie on the Venango Trail. It housed, in the time it operated, a variety of travelers from soldiers to statesmen, stage drivers, judges, lumbermen, cattle owners, oilmen, and even criminals.
The house consisted of a kitchen, parlor, and a dining room on the first floor. On the second floor it was one large sleeping area for all that was partioned off by curtains. As one of the best known stage coaches of Western Pennsylvania it also ran a post office. Inn's back in these times served as gathering places for many different people for their varieties of business, and for pleasure. The Old Stone House had many rules as well for a person during their stay. Signs that stood outside of the house stated that ' no more than five to sleep in a bed, and no dogs allowed in the kitchen.' This house offered travelers a meal and a bed from 1822-1885.
After the Civil War, the Stone House was advertised in the Butler Eagle newspaper for rent to tenants. Samuel Gill once lived there and on Sundays prepared family chicken dinners in the late 1880s. Through this time until 1918, many tenants came through this area using the land and the house. Over time and after 1918, the Stone House had been neglected and was in ruins for many years. As a sore site to the public for many years, an Old Stone House Restoration Committee was formed to restore this old site.
