Detwiller, John, Tavern and Farmstead
Also known as: Del-566-1
Why it's listed
Set among old trees on the west bank of the Scioto River in Delaware County, this farmstead began as a tavern operated by John Detwiller, a Swiss-born settler who arrived in Ohio in 1837. The tavern ran from about 1838 to about 1870, serving travelers on an early state road. Detwiller replaced a frame house with the present brick Greek Revival house in 1857. It has four rooms over four, a central hall, a dentiled cornice, and a slate roof. The property also holds a four-section Pennsylvania barn, a two-story drive-in granary, a 1930s WPA privy, and a 1940s chicken house. It is the only tavern known in Thompson Township, where food, lodging and a neighborhood meeting place mattered to early settlement. It is also a representative central Ohio farmstead showing how farm buildings changed between 1850 and 1950. The Detwiller family lived there until 1940.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be significant under Criterion A in Commerce as the only tavern known to have operated in Thompson Township, serving travelers and neighbors along an early state road. It is also significant under Criterion C as a good example of a typical central Ohio farmstead, showing 19th and 20th century farm buildings.
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 93000294, listed April 16, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2877 N. OH 257, Radnor |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | April 16, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000294 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1856-1940 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival; Other: Pennsylvania Barn; Other: Pattern book agricultural outbuildings |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | All resources are described as in good condition and, except the hand pump, currently in use; the house is used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 2.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.36670, -83.18843 (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 93000294.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137763052
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.