Friday, July 17, 2009

Lunch travel in Chillicothe, Ohio

Cross Keys TavernLunch time travels. You migh not think of going to lunch as traveling; but it can be. My Dad and I traveled about 50 miles to take care of some family business (dealing with my Mother's Death), and had lunch here, Cross Keys Tavern. We ventured there because my cousin works there. However, once there I became fascinated with it, love historic places, old buildings and often wonder when they were built, what happened there etc. I knew from an old photo this was an historic building in downtown Chillicothe. Chillicothe was the state's first capital and is filled with historic happenings.
Cross Keys Tavern
Currently, it's an Irish Pub with live music. Dixieland music some nights. In fact it holds a bit of a record. After some research here on line I found that it has the 2nd longest continuously playing house of Dixieland music in the country! It's been a tavern since the early 1900's. I asked my cousin what had been upstairs, she laughed and said maybe a bordello. Don't know if thats true, more research is needed. The tavern is on the ground floor, the upstairs I was asking about is where you see the white porch area.

The Goosetown Astonishers is a band in it's 35th year. The name alone tells some history of the area. Chillicothe has a very strong German history. The Goosetown Astonishers was a name of one of the early newspapers, if memory serves me correctly--the one that was written in German. Much of the states early German immigration began in Chillicothe. Many of the houses still show evidence of that influence.

This tavern has been investigated by The Buckeye Paranormal Society. The locals site evidence of ghost activity, primarily in the basement area. Locals say "Harold" makes noise, breaks glasses, turns on and off lights. One story supporting the possible reason for this is a man was murdered behind the tavern in the small ally. Though no one knows when, or why or even what the name of the man murdered was, the ghost has been given the name of Harold. Many of the old downtown buildings in Chillicothe are connected with a series of underground tunnels dating back to the 1800's which this building is or was a part of. Perhaps something happened in those tunnels and thats the cause of higher activity in the basement. Perhaps it's due to the underground railroad?

The Cross Keys Tavern is located at 19 E. Main Street in Chillicothe, serves daily lunch specials of good homemade food. Many of Courthouse employees eat lunch there, as it's just across the street. Years ago I read where someone was hung in front of the courthouse, where the sidewalk now is. I believe it was the States' first hanging.

I've traveled and had lunch here at The Cross Keys twice. I highly recommend it.

18 comments:

  1. This sounds like a fascinating place to stop in travels. I wouldn't be at all surprised if were haunted! Not such a bad thing, really. It could make for great dinner conversations!

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  2. I enjoyed my visit but I'll have to come back so I can visit the tavern. I do love a tavern and a nice meal. Thank you.

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  3. What a neat bunch of information. I would never have thought about all the possibilities while having lunch out. Might put a whole light on things next time I do go out for lunch

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  4. Sounds like a wonderful place to visit and enjoy the history and good food! I could do without meeting Harold though!

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  5. Ohio is just crammed full of history! Nifty about the tunnels.

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  6. Hi its me- that pesky little pug again. Ohhhh
    I just read it might be haunted? Oh I love haunted places. Oregon has LOTS of haunted places .
    So now, is there anything in this town that would be of interest to me? Is there a nice park? All my friends like places with nice parks so we can run around and play safe!
    So what do you think?
    the pesky pug
    tweedles

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  7. Let's go to lunch, or better yet dinner for the music, sounds like a fun place. Does Harold play with the band? Maybe there was a fit over a women from upstairs if your cousin's thought on it's previous business is correct...hum

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  8. Oh yes Tweedles, theres a wonderful park for you and your friends to run and play. I'll post pics of it sometime. Gotta find it, photographed there a different day, hum where did I put those pictures.
    Sandy

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  9. That would be wonderful Sandy if you can find those pictures. All my friends- well they all come "first" when it comes to traveling with their familys. If its not pet friendly- their eliminated. My moms found a wonderful park in Prineville, Oregon that had lots of shade trees, green grass and a waterfountain. Thanks for checking into it
    xoxoxo
    tweedles

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  10. what a pleasant & charming place. :)

    btw thanks for visiting my blog. i'm still trying to try to use the hula hoop :)

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  11. What a great blog you have here! Thanks for visiting The Post-It Place. I KNOW I will be back to visit you regularly. Wish I lived closer and then I would beg to tag along on your adventures. I always love an adventure and I can never con anyone into going with me.

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  12. love the history of this place. it sure does look like it could be haunted! spooky!

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  13. great looking street front! Hope you had a nice visit with your dad. {:-Deb

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  14. I practically grew up in the Cross Keys. It is definitely a great place filled with great people. I recommend stopping in on a Thursday night to hear the Goosetown Astonishers play, by the way. (The band plays from 8Pm-10:30Pm.) I have dragged many friends in to listen over the years and they've always enjoyed themselves.

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  15. I love to travel to places which have full of fascinating history. But of course not for the haunting one :)

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  16. You've shed a whole new light on eating and Chillicothe! The photos were charming.

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  17. Some time this happens. By chance you visit those places which are always memorable for you. I love the historical places. I am from subcontinent which is full of the historical places. Some time I get the chance to visit those places which are full of history and mystery as well. Even I can say that subcontinent is full of mystery and history as well.

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  18. I enjoy ghost stories, though they always seem to follow the same pattern. Somebody was killed on or near the premises and has never left. So of course there is a high probability of this happening at some point in time, but does it add merit to the story?

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