North fireplace Area: Dried herbs hanging at the fireplace. Notice bouncing Betty. The green leaf was used as soap when placed in water.

Adams plates on mantle were of the tavern period. Candle molds. Iron cup with handle - Sealing wax to seal jars. Pottery hangs at the mantle.

Dutch over (iron) for making biscuits. Crane for hanging kettles. Copper over for baking meat. Iron kettles with feet sat in the fire. Pottery with marks or designs of potter indicates age of pottery.

Woven baskets from reeds gathered in area. Wooden bowls for cutting cabbage for kraut or making butter with paddles. Knife cleaning and scouring box of brick dust. Chair seats woven or reeds or cattails. Meat chopper with handle made of wood.

Table-chair sample, larger ones were common. Dough box or tray for bread making. Plank chairs at table for eating. Windsor chairs with spine backs.

Plates on table - Barnes pewter 1812-1817. Knives and forks - bone handled.

Plate at south fireplace. Gaudy Pennsylvania Dutch (Miriam Reiter, Owner). Candle holder that fits on back for a reading light. Horn for calling farmers to the house for dinner.

There was no kitchen in this tavern.

Ox Cart Wheels

Hutch Made by Cliff Colson.

Mortar and pestle for mixing herbs for medicines.

Soap no lye used. Wood ashes and grease of animal fat cooked together made pioneer soap.

Ale shoe - Ale warmed over fire before drinking.

Boot jack - To remove shoes or boots.

Broom Made from bushes or branches.

Tools on board by back door, miscellaneous in nature.

The rope bed is interesting. Ropes took the place of springs. We have a straw tick which usually covered the ropes. The feather bed is there. This was used as a blanket for cover. The antique quilt was woven on a loom.

Also look for the following: Trundle bed, commode, wash bowl and pitcher, trunk, doll, candle holder, Old child’s coat, and cradle.
 

The room now serves as a museum house to miscellaneous collections of antiques from the Miamisburg area.

Two armoires (closets for clothes)

One Bible is dated 1831 and fits the period of the tavern. This Bible was purchased for 10 cents at a yard sale and presented to the tavern.

The other Bibles are of a later period. The photograph albums are of a later period also, but they are interesting to see how beautifully the subjects were dressed to make the best possible appearance in the photographs.

Dr. John Treon’s account book, 1835

Light used inside trains

Writing desk that folds up

Gebhart coat of arms

In glass case: The working model of the mower was built in Miamisburg by the Hoover-Gamble Company in 1870. This model was used by salesmen to sell the mower. The McCormick Reaper was already in use in the 1840. Dr. R.C. Doan’s wife was the grand daughter of the Allen who worked with the Hoover Company in Miamisburg.

Gruver Coverlet: This quilt was woven in 1835 for the Gruver family. This particular pattern or design is pictured in the book of coverlets.

Other Articles: Wooden clamp to hold leather when making harness, etc.

Flax comb to remove seeds from home grown flax to spin thread to make linen.

Railroad lamp of brass used whale oil or kerosene with a wick.

Ink well made from Pennsylvania clay.

Gruver Coverlet: This quilt was woven in 1835 for the Gruver family. This particular pattern or design is pictured in the book of coverlets.

Tin lunch box.

Dr. Judy’s pill bag he carried in making house calls before 1924.

Sampler framed on west wall: Dr. Reiter’s wife made this sampler in 1829 while she was attending school in Pennsylvania. All young ladies of this era did beautiful needle work. Dr Reiter was a Reformed Church minister in the early pioneer days of Miamisburg.

Dress Form: This dress and bonnet belonged to the grandmother (Kate brady) who lived in the house pictured on the wall, 715 E. Linden Avenue. She died in 1950 at the age of 96.

Cupboards: The two cupboards fastened to the wall do not represent the tavern period. They will be helpful in the future to house the memorabilia that will be added to the museum collections.

The two wardrobes do not represent the tavern period either. But they will serve nicely to hold articles on display. One wardrobe came from the Weber House. The other from the Brough Family. Ben Brough was a cabinet maker. Both of these wardrobes were hand made and used in the olden times as closets.

Heating: The tavern was heated by fireplaces. There were 2 upstairs. Imagine the work involved to supply the 2 fireplaces downstairs and the 2 downstairs, and the one in the cook house outside with wood. It would require several men to fell trees, cut wood, carry the wood to the fireplaces, and carry out the ashes.

Lighting: Candles supplied the only light. Point out the candle holders that hangs over a peg and can be carried from place to place.

Tobacco Table: Miami Valley raised more tobacco than any place in the world. There were 16 warehouses in Miamisburg. Farmers raised tobacco as a money crop. On the table are: Lath and spuds for hanging tobacco in sheds in September; Cigar Mold; hand chopper for chewing tobacco; Sprinkler for moistening leaves in stripping; Cigarettes put tobacco raising in this Valley out of business. Spittoons for men and women.

Portrait of Dr. John Treon: First doctor in Miamisburg 1811, came as young man on horseback from Penn. with his uncle, also a doctor. He arrived at Tavern with 37 1/2 cents. He could see smoke from only 3 chimneys along the river. All other residents were living in log cabins west and east of the river. There were no Churches, Streets, Schools, or business enterprises or roads. Gebhart’s Church and Stettler’s Church existed there? In 1818 Dr. John Treon with several others laid out the first Platt which became Miamisburg, the only town by this name in the world.

Under Tables: Hand made toys.

In Front of Fireplace: Cobbler’s tool to repair shoes, Spinning wheel.

Saw on wall for cutting ice.

In glass case on West wall: Mud from 1913 flood. Black ball box for voting. Reading glasses prepared for sale without eye examinations. Dollar issued on early Miamisburg bank, 1844. Hypodermic needle. Key to council room when Mr. Haklik was Mayor.

Flat iron collection, plus more modern irons.

Map: This shows how maps were made to lay out parts of the City of Miamisburg in plats. This was the Hunt Platt of 1884 for a new development in Miamisburg. It concerned the area between Central Avenue and Linden Avenue east of Seventh Street.

Framed Picture on North wall: This is the picture of the Brady Residence, 715 East Linden Avenue. This is one of the houses built in the Hunt’s Platt. It still stands today, the second house, east of Seventh Street on the North side of Linden Avenue. Notice the yard in the picture. It seems to be on the level with the street. Today this house stands on a hill because Linden Avenue was cut down to eliminate the hill.

Hand vacuum cleaners

Pictures of Sycamore Bridge: First bridge- covered, destroyed by flood. Second bridge- open bridge 1919. Third bridge- opened several years ago.

Hanging quilt: Names of Miamisburg Ladies who paid 20cents to have name embroidered on quilt. This was given to the luck lady whose name was drawn.

Wheeler and Wilson sewing machine 1850

Looking out the West windows: View of the river blocked by conservancy. The Well. Stable?, Cistern for two family house after 1840. Site of cook house. Time capsule to be opened in 2033. Harold Gebhart Smokehouse.