In 2020, we published a post on early pioneer, Lyman Langdon and his doings in the county, along with an account of his fiftieth wedding anniversary with wife, Fanny Sanford. But little was noted of the famous Langdon Tavern, which has since been moved from its home at the intersection of Buckskin Road and State Route 15 and renovated.
From the Crescent-News, January 25, 1960, p. 5:
"Once this house was a famous tavern. Called the Lyman Langdon Tavern, it was known in Indiana and Northwest Ohio as a respectable place where one might secure lodging and food It was named for its proprietor. Lyman Langdon was known for miles around the country for his friendly hospitality. He had previously kept a hotel in Defiance."
From the History of Defiance County, 1883:
"About 1827 or 1828, Payne C. Parker built at the corner of Front and Clinton Sts., where the furniture store of Hoffman and Geiger now stands for a store and a hotel, in which he carried on business for several years. Then he rented it to Blackman and Stoddard in 1834 an 1835. John W. Moore kept it one year. Lyman Langdon next occupied it in 1836...and ran it for five or six years, and under his administration, it took the name of 'Exchange.' "
From the Crescent-News, 1960, continued:
"This building was destroyed by fire in 1852. The Exchange had become very popular as a hotel and tavern. Here had room an boarded engineers, who planned the construction of the Miami and Erie Canal, judges holding court in the vicinity, and Fort Wayne merchants enroute east to secure goods.
While in Defiance, Langdon was elected a trustee of the township and served on the council in 1838. He was also appointed county judge in the place of Bishop Adams, who had moved to Henry County Lyman Langdon who had previously owned a farm near Farmer, sold his business to Samuel Rohn and C. I. Trude. He then bought the farm and the site of his new tavern in 1849 from Addison Goodyear, and moved to the farm.
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1870 quarter, made of 90% silver and can be quite
According to Alva LaVergne, Mr. Langdon charged but 25 cents a night for a bed, the same for a meal, and 35 cents for a man's horse and its two feedings. It is said that soldiers home on furlough from the Civil War were entertained with dances in the large ballroom on the third floor. Mr. LaVernge said the house had 23 rooms. After Mr. Langdon's death in 1900, the place was not used as a hotel, but Alva stated after he purchased it that he sometimes kept roomers.
In 1917, after thinking for many years, 'I'd like to own a place like that,' Mr. Lavergne purchased the 220 acres of the Langdon farm for $25,000.
'I had always loved the place,' he said, 'even when I was a child It was then one of the best buildings in the county Soon after he bought the place he built a large barn and decided to become an auctioneer. He studied at the Jones School of Auctioneering, Chicago. After completing the course he tried sales in Northwest Ohio and Northeast Indiana, and became well-known."
He and his younger son, Paul, who was at home at that time, decided to start a pony ranch. They bought about 40 ponies and trained them to be ridden. Then on Sundays, they invited children from the surrounding country to ride free of charge. This they continued for about eight years...
TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 2
This house was donated to the Ney Boyscouts around the early 70’s My uncle Chuck Brenner was envolved with the Ney Boyscouts
ReplyDeleteVery interesting history. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI remember when this was on 15. I grew up on Lockwood Road.
ReplyDeleteGreat story
ReplyDelete