offers program on 200-year-old inn
Smithville Inn celebrates 200 years and is the only inn still operating on Akron Road, formally known as the Portage Path. Rick and Kathy Hammond have owned and operated the inn since 1988.
Smithville Inn is celebrating 200 years. Owner Rick Hammond will present a program of the history of the inn to members of the Smithville Community Historic Society on May 7 at 7 p.m. at the Historic Church of God on Milton Street in Smithville. The public is encouraged to attend.
The inn was a mainstay along major trails across the country, and there is no exception at Smithville. The trail has had several names and numbers: War Trail (Native Americans), Portage Path, state Route 5 and now state Route 585 or Akron Road.
Smithville actually had several inns, some of which were established before the current village in 1836. The land on which the inn was built was granted to the first owner, James Hazlett, assignee of Thomas Taylor, by President James Monroe on June 25, 1818.
It has operated as an inn since shortly after that date with changes in ownership and name occurring over the years.
These inns provided drink, food and a resting place for travelers as the location, 25 miles from Akron and 10 miles from Wooster, was two days from Akron and one day from Wooster. These trips were on horseback or by coaches as the roads improved. By the mid to late 1800s, rail service had arrived in the area.
In 1929 the inn, which had set idle for a number of years, was purchased by Paul and Sevilla Rening. Two major changes took place immediately: Liquor was no longer served, and they no longer housed overnight guests.
As for the building, the Renings moved the old town hall and attached it to the rear of the structure in the 1930s. In 1936 a large banquet room was extended off the old town hall. This allowed the inn to seat 400 people.
The Renings chose to become a restaurant, serving meals family style. Guests could eat all they wanted for one price. The meal included chicken, mashed potatoes, noodles, salad, relish plate and pie or cake. This meal would become their mainstay on the menu along with a number of other meals featuring chicken. Other meat selections also were offered on the menu.
In 1945 the inn underwent a complete renovation.
Rick and Kathy Hammond purchased the inn in 1988 and have continued the chicken dinner on the menu for 30 years.
The society will hold a brief business meeting prior to the program. Hostesses for the evening are Linda Platt and Carole Martin.