Welcome to the official website of The Red Brick Tavern.

Our Restaurant stands as a reminder of the past. The restaurant is Ohio's second oldest stagecoach stop. We have tried to recreate the warmth and ambience of bygone eras.

Traditional American cuisine is offered. Hand cut steaks, prime rib roast daily, fresh seafood, and daily specials of homemade fare. The famous cinnamon rolls are still served warm from the oven everyday.

The Red Brick offers banquet facilities to accommodate groups up to 100 people. Complete audio and video equipment is also available.

When you visit us, please be sure to sign our guest registry. We'd like to keep the rich history of the restaurant and its guests up to date. Occasionally, we send out a newsletter and coupons for our frequent guests.

We are located at 1700 Cumberland Road (Route 40) Lafayette, Ohio. Visit our Map & Directions page for more detail.

 

An old mud road greeted William and Mary Stephenson Minter when they traveled to Madison County by way of Kentucky in 1829. These early

pioneers decided to put down roots in what was to become Lafayette, conveniently situated half-way between Springfield and Columbus.

William and Mary had nine children, six girls and three boys. One of the girls, Ann Minter, was 12 years of age at the time of the platting. She had been reading a biography of the French General LaFayette, and when asked what the town should be named, immediately gave the answer. And so it was. William Minter surveyed the town of Lafayette on October 1, 1834.

Stanley Watson came to Lafayette from Connecticut. He married Effa, a daughter of William and Mary Minter, on April 8, 1831. William Minter conveyed to Stanley Watson the lot on which The Red Brick Tavern was to be erected in 1836. Records indicate a brick tavern was built for Calvin Anderson by Stanley Watson and was in operation when the National Road was completed through the Deercreek Township in 1836-1837.

The Red Brick Tavern was leased to John McMullen. He is reported to have operated it as a tavern until 1859. By that time there were as many as six or seven taverns in Deercreek Township.

Stanley Watson, owner of The Red Brick Tavern, died October 8, 1847. His first wife, Effa, died in 1839. On October 27, 1853, The Red Brick Tavern was transferred to Stanley's oldest and only surviving son, William H. Watson. William, in turn, transferred it to his grandmother, Mary S. Minter, on February 25, 1854. It is probable that William and Mary Minter resided in The Red Brick prior to William's death, August 13, 1859, at the age of 80. Documents show that the Minter home, just east of the Tavern, had burned around this time.

Mary transferred the Tavern to her daughter, Ann M. Rogers in 1864. Mary died February 13, 1869, at the age of 87 years old. The Red Brick was the residence of Ann from February 10, 1864 until her death on March 31, 1900. Her only child, Lucy R. Taylor, and her family resided in the tavern until 1924, when it reopened for business. Lucy's two sons, Mark Taylor and Thurman M. Taylor were born in The Red Brick Tavern.

Mark and Mary Taylor were married September 6, 1898 and resided at The Red Brick until 1912. Two of their three children were born there, Max Rogers Taylor, born December 3, 1901, and Fanny Florence Taylor, born October 19, 1912. Their families still own land in the Lafayette area.

The original Red Brick is a reversed "L". The main section faced the highway. The narrower part extends along the side street. The first floor of the narrower part was the dining room and kitchen. Above were about 12 rooms where travelers slept. Originally, The Red Brick Tavern had a total of 24 rooms.

The Red Brick design is of Old English Manor style. The bricks used to build The Red Brick Tavern were made from clay in a field east of the US 42/US 40 overpass, adjacent to the Martha Reed Minter farm and fired nearby.

The doorway is of pure Doric design in harmony with the simplicity of the facade. The column on each side has the customary twenty flutes surmounted by plain Doric capitals. There is a narrow window on each side of the solid mahogany door and another above the transom, giving light to the hallway and adding design beauty to the whole.

The main entrance hallway was designed to permit passage of the massive furniture of the day as does the central stairway leading to the rooms above. To the right of the entranceway was the office and original bar room. The direct entrance to it, the east doorway, is still visible today.

In 1929, by marks on the floor, one could tell where the bar stood. From marks on the ceiling and floor, there was indication where a trunk room was partitioned off.

There is a stairway leading to the private third floor, which has four rooms under the gables of the front wing. These lead off a wide hallway. On the second floor of the front wing each bedroom has an open fireplace, smaller and less ornate than those on the main floor.

The ash, oak, and walnut wood used for interior trim was obtained from Zainesville. At that time, that area was well known for such wood products.

For several years between 1854 and 1864 a school was conducted on the third floor of The Red Brick. At times during the period from 1866 to 1924, the rear wing was rented to various families. The Taylor's used the front and front part of the rear wing for their families.

Lucy Taylor and her husband sold The Red Brick to Mary Keifer and Anne Baldwin in 1923, but continued to live there until 1924. In 1940 Mary Keifer, having obtained sole ownership, sold the property to Joe Weingart. In the years between 1924 and 1940 the Red Brick was operated as a tea room and restaurant, and photos show lodging was offered to tourists and others until 1935.

Since the ownership of Joe Weingart, The Red Brick Tavern has stood as a welcome beacon to greet guests who find their way back time after time, appreciating the food and hospitality for which the restaurant has become famous. There have been no lodging accommodations since 1935.

In 1945, Weingart sold the restaurant to Albert Payne; by him to Nellie Payne in 1947; and by her (Nellie Payne Braskett) to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Murphy in 1963. In 1972, a group of local businessmen purchased the property. After a year of major renovations, the restaurant reopened to customers. George Martindale, of Springfield, ran the tavern for one year. Upon his departure, local businesswoman Eleanor Lanigan took over until 1982. At that time, Gene and Shirley Freet became the hosts of The Red Brick Tavern. In 1996, they also purchased the property along with the restaurant. The Red Brick was then owned and operated by their son, Shawn Freet in partnership with Gene. After Gene's death, the restaurant was run by Shawn and Christy Freet. The restaurant was sold in 2007 to Cris Cummins and Madonna Christy.

There is limited Dining Room seating available. Please call for reservations.		Monday - Saturday|	4:00pm - 11:00pm.
		Monday - Saturday|	Kitchen closes at 8:30

 

View Larger Map in Google Maps>>

From Columbus: > I-70 West to Route 42 > Route 42 South to Route 40 West -- OR -- > Route 40 (Broad Street) West to Lafayette From Springfield: > I-70 East to Route 56 > Route 56 South to Route 40 East -- OR -- > Route 40 (Main Street) East to Lafayette

Our email: info@historicredbricktavern.com

Our Phone number: (740) 852-1474

Our Fax number: (740) 852-5254

Our Address:
1700 Cumberland St.
London, Ohio 43140