More historical Tidbits about the Werner Inn: In 1853, when George Reed married Mary Werner, a daughter of Henry, he purchased the Werner Inn. The establishment later became known as the Reed Tavern. George also dealt in cattle and horses, and as a young boy made long trips across the country to drive market horses into eastern cities. Handling a large amount of livestock led him to study their diseases. H e eventually had a reputation for being able to diagnose and treat various health concerns of animals. George was a popular fiddler, and he put his talents into good use when square dances were held in the upstairs ballroom of the inn. The Reeds were known to reach out to others in the community. At one time, a family with nine children, who had lost their home in a fire, were offered housing in the inn. Ida also opened her home to her best friend, Polly Schanower. Before Ida was married, she and Polly had worked for the same family, and she had promised Polly that if she ever married, Polly could live with her. One of the rooms at the inn is still known as Pollys room. The Reeds had six children, and the youngest was named Ida. After her marriage Ida continued to live in the home to care for her parents. Ida and her husband had a daughter named Charlotte, who also married and stayed in the home to care for her parents. Charlotte (Hale) Kendzora was the family member who sold the property to the Osnaburg Historical Society in December of 1986. Over the years, Mrs. Kendzora shared her recollections of growing up in the large home that even at the time was located on a busy by-way. She said her grandfather dealt in cattle and horses. She remembered Polly baking cookies for them and running errands with her. She also remembered that in later years music from a Victrola replaced her fathers fiddling when dances were held in the ballroom. For a short time in the 1940-50s. Dr. David Edwards had his dentist office in an area of the home. According to historical reports from the early 1900 era, the people of Osnaburg (East Cantons name until 1918) were accustomed to seeing gaily painted stagecoaches and sleek looking horses stopping t the towns taverns. In fact, visiting with the passers-by was a great way of finding out what was happening in other parts of the state and country. The stagecoach drivers would also have interesting tidbits to share about people and events. Thanks to one of those travelers, residents of the area have another glimpse of what life must have been like in the 1800s. I have never again in the West found a town in which so much German was spoken as in Osnaburg, wrote the well traveled minister, Jo-hann Gottfried Buttner in 1844. Thanks to the good care the Werner/Reed family gave to their home and to the careful preservation done by the historical society, the inn looks much the same as it would have back in the days of ballrooms and stagecoaches. Many pieces of furniture and other items in the house are original to the home.
Posted on: Fri, 24 Jan 2014 12:56:53 +0000