Treber Inn
Why it's listed
Built in 1798 on Zane's Trace, Ohio's first road, this hewn log building near West Union served as both a family home and an inn. John Treber, a Maryland native who settled the site in 1796-97, constructed the two-story log section with a double-height open porch across the front. Around 1810 a one-story fieldstone kitchen and dining room was added at the rear. An unusual triangular fieldstone chimney serves four rooms with a single stack. As the trace was widened for stagecoaches, the inn became one of the area's main stops, and one small upstairs room is still known as the stagecoach driver's room. Treber's son Jacob ran it as an inn until about 1850, when railroads ended stagecoach travel. Guests reportedly included Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay and Senator Thomas Hart Benton. It was listed as one of the earliest permanent structures on the road and one of the last original buildings remaining along it.
Significance in brief: It was one of the first permanent structures on Zane's Trace, Ohio's first road, and is one of the last remaining original buildings along it. It became a primary stagecoach stop, and notable travelers such as Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay and Thomas Hart Benton are said to have stayed there.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 76001358, listed May 17, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5 mi. NE of West Union on OH 41, West Union |
|---|---|
| County | Adams County |
| Listed | May 17, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001358 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1798 |
| Architect / builder | John Treber |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Transportation, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a private dwelling since about 1850; the form lists the condition as fair, with a small frame bathroom added in 1973. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.84942, -83.48692 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 76001358.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137591950
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.