Eager Inn
Why it's listed
Built of smooth random ashlar Waverly sandstone, this two-story inn sits north of Morgantown in Pike County, Ohio, where Richardson Hollow Road meets State Route 772. The original section has four rooms, a gable roof, stone end chimneys and stone-arched openings, with separate doors that probably led to the sleeping area and the tap room. A two-room stone addition on the left side, dated 1858 in its gable, was built by local mason Peter Higgins. The inn lay along Zane's Trace, the route between Zanesville, Ohio, and Maysville, Kentucky, which was laid out between 1797 and 1804 and lined with taverns during westward migration. The exact construction date is unknown, though it was built before 1834, and Isaac Penisten is the likeliest builder. John Eager bought the property in 1836 and ran a tavern there until 1850; it stayed in his family until 1917. The building is valued as a well-preserved early stone inn typical of stagecoach-era travel.
Significance in brief: The inn stood on Zane's Trace, the shortest and most used route between Zanesville, Ohio, and Maysville, Kentucky. It is considered important as a well-preserved early stone building and a typical simple inn of the stagecoach era.
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 74001597, listed November 8, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N of Morgantown off OH 772, Morgantown |
|---|---|
| County | Pike County |
| Listed | November 8, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001597 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (built before 1834; addition 1858) |
| Architect / builder | Addition built by Peter Higgins, a local stone mason; original builder unknown (possibly Isaac Penisten or John Eager) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and altered; the form checks private residence as present use and marks the property occupied. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 39.14240, -83.19581 (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 74001597.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138648248
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.