Warren Tavern Complex
Also known as: John McLure Snook Property
Why it's listed
Along U.S. Route 36 near Delaware, Ohio, a brick tavern known locally as the "Dutch Tavern" anchors a surviving rural complex on land once part of a 4,000-acre military tract deeded to Jonathen Dayton around 1799-1800. The tavern, built before 1845, is a 1½-story common bond brick building on a rubble foundation. Its distinctive feature is a stepped gable on the end-facing facade, a layout not found in other documented taverns in the county, along with a corbeled brick cornice that returns onto the front. Inside, original plank floors, woodwork, iron latches and hinges, fireplaces and stenciled walls remain. Nearby are a springhouse, an altered log and horse barn, a granary, a buggy shed, an orchard and the depression of an old ice pond. The property was listed for its architecture and for its links to prominent county landholding families, including the McLures, Warrens, Bevans, Owens and Snooks, known for their farming success.
Significance in brief: The tavern is a well-preserved pre-Civil War rural tavern complex with an unusual stepped-gable facade oriented to the gable end, unlike other documented taverns in the county. It retains original interior features such as wide plank floors, iron hardware and wall stenciling. It is also tied to prominent county families known for agriculture and represents a mid to late 19th century agricultural complex.
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 83001958, listed August 3, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | U.S. 36, Delaware |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | August 3, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001958 |
| Resource type | District |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant and unoccupied, with work in progress; the surrounding land is still used for grazing and agriculture. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 40.30034, -83.13017 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 83001958.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.