{"nrhp_refnum":"83001956","name":"Center Inn","other_names":["Pifer Residence"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"SE of Sunbury on OH 37","address_restricted":false,"city":"Sunbury","county":"Delaware County","state":"OH","lat":40.21700220800005,"lon":-82.80038681699995,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1983-01-11","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A large brick inn building, 2½ stories, built in 1829 in rural Trenton Township southeast of Sunbury, Delaware County, Ohio, on a 1.4-acre nominated parcel along State Route 37. Gilbert Van Dorn is named as builder/architect.","why_significant":"It is described as the first brick building and inn in Trenton Township. It served as an inn, tavern and grocery store for the area known as \"Van's Valley\" through the mid-nineteenth century. The building has changed very little, and its Flemish bond brick, 12/12 windows, staircase and black walnut trim show fine early craftsmanship.","narrative":"Built in 1829, Center Inn is a large brick building in rural Trenton Township, southeast of Sunbury in Delaware County, Ohio. It rises 2½ stories on a stone foundation, with a three-bay gabled south facade of Flemish bond brick and double-hung 12/12 windows, many with original glass. A two-story brick wing was added soon after construction, and later one-story frame and stucco additions sit at the rear. Inside, the staircase, black walnut woodwork, built-in cabinets and pegged oak plank floors appear original. Gilbert Van Dorn arrived in the township in 1817, bought 1,000 acres in an area called \"Van's Valley,\" and opened the township's first tavern in 1818 as the Center Inn. His original log building was replaced by this brick structure. It was the first brick building and inn in the township and also served as a tavern and grocery store through the mid-nineteenth century. Its ownership has changed only four times.","period_of_significance":"1800-1899 (specific date 1829)","architect_builder":"Gilbert Van Dorn","architectural_style":null,"criteria":[],"status_note":"Occupied as a private residence; condition listed as excellent, and new owners were undertaking careful rehabilitation at the time of the form.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:53:14.262448-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_OH/83001956.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/83001956/fc32084e7a-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/83001956/fc32084e7a-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Nyttend","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Center_Inn_near_Sunbury.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Nyttend</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Center_Inn_near_Sunbury.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71988062","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q137765469"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/ohio/delaware-county/center-inn-83001956/"}