Wallace-Baily Tavern
Why it's listed
Built around 1840 of rubblestone and set about fifty-five feet back from U.S. Route 40 west of Brier Hill, this three-bay, two-and-a-half story tavern follows a central hall plan with a frame kitchen ell to the west. Its double-stacked portico, sidelights and transoms of red glass, and low-pitched roof show the vernacular Greek Revival style. Inside, the splayed parlor windows, molded door surrounds, and open stair retain much of their original woodwork. The kitchen ell is divided into two rooms with separate fireplaces and a back stair, a feature typical of National Road taverns. Its association with the road's early commercial traffic and the tenure of tavern keepers Isaac Baily and Arthur Wallace gives it historical weight. Among the surviving taverns of the early National Road era, it is regarded as an intact example of the type, despite later window and kitchen replacements.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the tavern is significant for its association with the early nineteenth-century commercial development of the National Road and for its vernacular Greek Revival architecture. It states that the building retains enough integrity to be identifiable as a tavern through its form, floor plan, and interior woodwork, and it is one of two extant taverns identified in Redstone Township in a 1987 survey.
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 95001350, listed November 27, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | US 40, 1.5 mi. W of Brier Hill, Redstone Township, Brier Hill |
|---|---|
| County | Fayette County |
| Listed | November 27, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95001350 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1840 -C. 1855 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.99333, -79.85126 (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 95001350.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7962719
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.