Marcus Curtiss Inn

The Marcus Curtiss Inn is a historic brick house and former inn and post office near Galena in Genoa Township, Delaware County, Ohio. The property is associated with Marcus Curtiss, a native of Connecticut who moved to the area in 1808 with his family, his brother’s family, and another Connecticut family. Curtiss established a farm on approximately 681 acres of land and became one of the earliest settlers in what developed into Genoa Township. Curtiss’s property also supported an early local brickmaking operation. Because portions of the land contained substantial clay, he began producing bricks for construction. The resulting house was notable not only as Curtiss’s residence but also as the first brick house in the surrounding area. Its construction formed part of the early physical development of the settlement and reflected the use of locally available materials. Curtiss left the area to serve during the War of 1812. After the war, he returned to what is now Delaware County and resumed construction of the house. The present structure was completed in 1822. It is a relatively simple two-and-a-half-story rectangular building with a straightforward interior arrangement. Although the property was historically known as an inn and post office as well as a residence, its significance rests primarily on its connection with early settlement, local transportation and communication, and vernacular architecture. The building has a metal roof and remains in use as a private residence rather than operating as a commercial lodging business. In late 1976, the Marcus Curtiss Inn was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The designation recognized both the architectural character of the building and its importance to the history of Genoa Township and the wider Delaware County area. As a result, the name refers principally to a historic place and heritage property rather than to a contemporary hospitality brand with a documented chain, corporate owner, or active commercial operating network.

Marcus Curtiss, a Connecticut native, moved to the area that is now Genoa Township in 1808. He arrived with his family, his brother’s family, and a third family from Connecticut, making the group part of the earliest settlement in the locality. Curtiss acquired and farmed approximately 681 acres. The land included clay-rich areas, and he established a brickworks, an activity that helped supply construction materials for the developing settlement. The house connected with Curtiss’s name emerged during this early period of settlement. Curtiss served in the War of 1812 and subsequently returned to Delaware County. After his return, he resumed work on the building. The present house was completed in 1822 and became the first brick house in the area. Its construction was therefore both a personal undertaking and an important local development, demonstrating the transition from an emerging frontier settlement to a more established community. The building also served several community functions. In addition to being Curtiss’s home, it was one of the first inns in the area and operated as the township’s first post office. These uses made the property relevant to early travel, hospitality, and communication in Genoa Township. The inn designation reflects its historical role and does not indicate that it currently operates as a hotel or lodging business. Architecturally, the structure is a plain rectangular building rising two and a half stories. Its floor plan is simple, with rooms arranged without the elaborate ornament associated with later commercial or institutional buildings. The present exterior includes a metal roof. The building’s architectural importance is closely linked to its early date, brick construction, and survival as a tangible example of the region’s initial settlement period. In late 1976, the Marcus Curtiss Inn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The listing recognized two related aspects of the property: its architectural significance as an early brick house and its historical association with Marcus Curtiss, Genoa Township’s early settlement, the first local post office, and one of the area’s earliest inns. The building remains in use as a private residence. Public information supplied for this entry does not identify a current commercial operator, owner, preservation organization, or hospitality company associated with the property.

• 1976

  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

  [1]Marcus Curtiss Innen.wikipedia.org

  The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in late 1976 for its architectural and local historical importance.

• 1822

  Present house completed

  [1]Marcus Curtiss Innen.wikipedia.org

  Following Curtiss’s return from the war, construction of the present two-and-a-half-story brick house was completed.

• 1812

  Curtiss serves in the War of 1812

  [1]Marcus Curtiss Innen.wikipedia.org

  Curtiss left the settlement to serve during the War of 1812 and later returned to Delaware County.

• 1808

  Marcus Curtiss settles in the area

  [1]Marcus Curtiss Innen.wikipedia.org

  Marcus Curtiss moved from Connecticut to the area that later became Genoa Township, Delaware County, Ohio, with members of his family and other settlers.

A locally significant early nineteenth-century Ohio property whose identity derives from its historic role as a residence, inn, post office, and early brick building rather than from a current commercial hospitality operation.

• Historic building and former inn · 1822

  Marcus Curtiss Inn historic house

  A two-and-a-half-story rectangular brick house completed in 1822 near Galena, Ohio. Historically, it served as Marcus Curtiss’s residence, one of the area’s first inns, and the first post office in the township. The building is now used as a private residence and is recognized for its early construction, simple plan, and connection with the settlement history of Genoa Township.

1. 1Marcus Curtiss Innen.wikipedia.org