An old mud road greeted William and Mary Stephenson Minter when they traveled to Madison County by way of Kentucky back in 1829. These early pioneers decided to put down roots on land granted to them from service in the Revolutionary War in what was to become La Fayette, conveniently located half-way between Springfield and Columbus.

    It is believed that Ms. Anne Minter, William and Mary's daughter, named the town. She had been reading a biography of the famous Frenchman, General La Fayette, when she was asked what the town should be called.

    Today, Interstate-70 is generally on the same line as that old mud road but there have been a lot of changes in the years that separate the frontier from the fast-paced travel of today. One thing that has survived is the Red Brick Tavern.

    With all of its beauty, warmth and tradition intact nearly two centuries after it was built, the Red Brick Tavern today has the distinction of being the second oldest hostelry in Ohio remaining in full operation. The first is the Golden Lamb located in Lebanon Ohio.

    Operated from 1837-1856 as a tavern, Red Brick became a private residence when stage coach travel became obsolete with the advent of the railroad. Reopening its doors to the public in 1925, it has stood as a welcome beacon to greet guests who find their way back time after time, appreciating the famous Red Brick hospitality which has never gone out of style.  

Design is Old English Manor

    The original Red Brick is a reversed "L". The main section faced the highway and the narrower part extended along the side street. The first floor of the narrow part was the dining room and kitchen.  On the second floor were about 12 rooms, of the total 24, where travelers slept. The present bar area and the kitchen were added in later years.

    The Red Brick design is old English Manor style. The front doorway is pure Doric in harmony with the simplicity of the facade. The old walls are built of bricks made from clay taken out of a field east of US Rt. 42 and south of US Rt. 40 where a swale still indicates the spot. Ash, oak and walnut wood used for the doorway and interior trim came from Zanesville.

    The columns on either side of the impressive doorway have the customary 20 flutes surmounted by plain Doric capitals. On each side of the column is a plain square post giving design contrast, serving to accent the simplicity of the doorway. The front door had four panels with arches and there are narrow windows on each side of the door now and another above the transom, shedding light into the hallway and adding beauty to the entranceway.

    To the right of the entrance was the office and the original barroom. A direct entrance, a smaller doorway, can still be seen at the front of the building. The west front room, now called the Traveller's Room, was the parlor where the ladies were welcome. Of course, they never entered the barroom!

    There's a stairway to the third floor which has four rooms under the gables of the front wing. This area in later years was used as a dormitory for waitresses. On the second floor of the front wing there are open fireplaces, smaller and less ornate that the four located on the main floor.

    As was the custom, the first students in the new territory were taught in private homes in the neighborhood until the township, Deercreek, acquired enough population to build a schoolhouse. According to Fanny Florence Taylor Baynes, a direct descendent of the Minter family, school was held in the tavern between 1854 and 1864 for the Minter children and perhaps for those from other families. The Baynes family owns the brass hand bell used to call these early students for classes.

    Still visible now, as then, are the original fireplaces, the broad double chimneys on either side of the roof, and the deep-set windows and sills. The windows themselves were recently replaced with historically accurate replicas to further preserve the building for future generations.

Red Brick Entertains Famous

    The Red Brick is said to have been the scene of a meeting between William Henry Harrison and Martin Van Buren during the "Tippicanoe and Tyler, too" campaign. A total of 6 U.S. Presidents visited the tavern: John Quincy Adams, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Warren G. Harding. On display in the main dining room are artists' sketches of the six presidents who have visited the tavern. You will also find portraits of other notable guests like opera singer Jenny Lind and American politician Henry Clay decorating the walls.

    A story is told that the first cookstove brought to Madison County was placed in the tavern when it was built, causing much curiosity. Some old-timers thought it to be an invention of the devil, a contrivance designed to "keep people from doing an honest day's work."

 Red Brick Welcomes Guests Once More

     In 1925, the Red Brick Tavern, after being home to several generations, again became a welcome eating place for travelers and localities, first as a tearoom and then as a restaurant. Lodging was offered until 1935 when it was purchased by new owners.

    In 1972 the tavern was closed and one year later, completely redecorated, was re-opened by a group of 15 local businessmen who believed its rich heritage should be preserved. The traditional structure had been retained and many fine antiques and period pieces were gathered from private collections to refurbish the landmark.

    From 1972 until 2022, the tavern would trade hands 3 more times until the current owners acquisition. After the COVID-19 pandemic caused the tavern to close its' doors, brothers Kyle and Travis Massey found the building after a chance cruise down US Rt. 40. Immediately seeing the charm of the old tavern, they got to work reversing years of neglect to reveal the original beauty the Red Brick Tavern possessed. After several months of extensive repairs, the tavern opened its' doors once again on February 14th, 2023. With plans to re-open the second floor, the Red Brick Tavern will again be a place of rest and respite for generations to come.

    The taste tantalizing fragrances of American classics still greet guests as do the sights of polished wood and sparkling glassware surrounded by the sounds of good conversation and shared laughter. Now, as always, friendly people wave and smile their special "Welcome to the Red Brick Tavern," much as their predecessors did almost two centuries ago.