It was built in the 1820s as the summer
home of the couple who wintered in Cincinnati. The property and "old
house" were a part of the will of Gen Abraham Piatt of Castle Mac-A-Cheek.
After the deaths Abraham Piatt and brother Donn Piatt, the home fell into
disrepair and was even covered with vines. The property eventually
was purchased by a couple, the Younkmans, who were returning to the home
area of the wife. They planned to built their retirement home there.
But when they discovered the log home under the vines and researched it's
history, they decided to restore
the home and open it as a gift shop.
This house was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Elizabeth Barnett
Piatt was the station master and her husband Benjamin McCullough Piatt
was a federal judge in Cincinnati who was sworn to uphold the Fugitive
Slave Act. It is thought that he was suspect of his wife's activities
and, therefore, sent plenty of advance notice of his arrival at the summer
home. If you can find a copy of the July 1984 issue of National Geographic
at the library, this story is mentioned.
information courtesy
of Laverne Ingram Piatt
More links about The Pioneer House:
http://www.shakerwssg.org/pioneer_housewest_liberty_ohio.htm
The Pioneer House-West Liberty, OH
http://www.countylogan.com/pioneer/
Welcome to The Pioneer House
http://www.countylogan.com/pioneer/history.htm
History of the home (ed. note--some of this information
is not correct)