Oldest Stone House Museum Near Cleveland Will Take You Back To The Victorian Era
By Nikki Rhoades|Published September 14, 2020
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Just outside of the City of Cleveland, you’ll find yourself wandering into the lovely streets of Lakewood, Ohio. This community was established in 1889, having formerly been inhabited by indigenous cultures until The Treaty of Fort Industry pushed them further west. Permanent settlement in the area began around 1818, and the city had thrived ever since… doing so while preserving its history, thanks largely to a passionate group of locals. Today, the Oldest Stone House Museum in Lakewood offers an excellent glimpse into the history of the city… and it actually dates back to when the community was known as Rockport Township. Check it out:
If you've spotted this iconic stone house during your travels through Lakewood, you may be surprised to know that it is now a museum.
The Oldest Stone House Museum, otherwise known as the Honam/Hotchkiss House, has a story to tell. The structure is the oldest remaining stone structure in old Rockport Township (now Lakewood), and there is evidence to suggest that this location has been moved twice.
The Oldest Stone House Museum, as it is now called, was built in 1834 and was saved from demolition in 1953.
John Honam collected local sandstone to construct this cozy home on a parcel of about 60 acres. The house was a way for Honam to flex his wealth. He was an immigrant from Scotland, but precious little is known about him. His daughter and her husband, Isabella and Orvis Hotchkiss, operated several businesses in the historic home until 1897.
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This welcoming little stone house was a home for the first few decades of existence, but it went on to serve as a post office, doctor's office, barbershop, and more.
This home has an eclectic history. In addition to being one of the oldest homes in the area, this home also had the pleasure of watching the commercial district of Lakewood blossom. It was formerly located on Detroit Avenue and was perhaps moved once or twice (before the Lakewood Historical Society moved it to its final location in Lakewood Park) to accommodate the creation of streets. Fortunately, when it was finally slated for demolition, it was offered to a local historian at no cost.
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Today, it sits in Lakewood Park, lovingly preserved inside and out, and hosting a number of relics from Old Lakewood.
Fittingly, the house now rests on a parcel of land formerly owned by the very man that built it. It is filled with Honam/Hotchkiss homestead mementos, as well as artifacts from other area families, like the Nicholsons. The spinning wheel pictured here was actually from the Nicholson household, which still stands on Detroit Avenue.
There is so much history at this special spot. Visitors will even find gems out in the garden, including an original English rose bush brought to the U.S. by a local family in the nineteenth century. Visitors may also spot an old grapevine hailing from the old Nicholson fruit farm that once operated on Detroit Avenue.
Expect a few surprises during your visit... like some tombstones that hail from the Wagar Cemetery.
Oh, you may also spot some headstones in the garden. The cemetery from which they stood was started in 1828 and was abandoned about a century later in 1925. The graves were largely relocated to other cemeteries, though some headstone obviously found their way to the museum.
Are you ready to check out this historic house? Plan a visit, or take a virtual visit using 3D technology online.
The Oldest Stone House Museum in Lakewood has a story to tell. Have you ever visited this iconic site? What’s the oldest Northeast Ohio landmark you have visited? Tell us in the comments!
Love local history? Swing by Dunham Tavern – constructed circa 1824 – for a glimpse back into Cleveland’s early days.
