A paragraph from the Historical Society’s meeting notes of June 1965 states that “…over 100 persons met in Greenup for a tour. First they had a conducted tour through the 134 year old, 29 room hotel, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Lee Winnett. When first built this was known as the Barbour Inn and contains a room where Abraham Lincoln stayed.” After reading the above we began wondering, “Just exactly what IS the history of the old hotel where the Cumberland County Historical Society is now located? With the help of Bobbie Goodman this historic location in Greenup reads as follows: 1831 – Joseph Barbour bought 160 acres at $1.25 per from the U. S. Govt. and on this location established a Tavern/Inn made of log construction. (#1 is an actual photo of a part of the original Old National Road, and what it would have looked like as it passed through this area at that time.) 1834 – Barbour donated 12 blocks causing platting of a town. The Barbour Inn was on lot #6 that bordered along Old National Road. The town was named for W. C. Greenup who also donated land for the village. 1835 – The Inn was sold to Mr. Greenup. 1836 – The Inn was sold to a Mr. Harrison, who in turn sold to a Mr. Wolfe. 1838 – Somehow or other Mr. Greenup regained procession of the Inn, but a judgment against Mr. Greenup resulted in a Sheriff’s sale and Lot #6 went to the Porter family. 1847 – By this time this corner property was in the hands of a Mr. Ed Talbott who had married the widow Jane Wolfe who had somehow ended up owning the property again. Mr. Talbott undertook the Hotel business and constructed the new “Greenup House”. 1852 – Ed Talbott sold the Greenup House to John & Amanda Sheplor. 1854 – The Sheplors sold out to Charles Conzet. 1870 – Simon and Abigail Lyons, owners of The Jewett Inn, leased the Greenup House for a short time. During this time period room & board for 46 days with 64 meals cost $10.00. 1889 – A succession of Conzet’s had had a 48 year reign when in 1889 Eliza Conzet employed S. M. Harper as proprietor of the hotel. 1891 – Conzet undertook an extensive remodeling project, moving the original portion to the rear and designing an entirely new front portion. 1902 – The Conzet House sold to J. B. and Sarah Bell, owners of the “Bell House” in Casey. 1912 – The Garrett family, who owned two hotels in Mattoon, moved to Greenup and bought out the Bells. The establishment operated under the name “Garrett Hotel” for 32 years. 1915 – A dedication ceremony was held commemorating and marking the site of the old “Barbour Inn”. 1943 – Ina Winnett sold her “Coffee Shop” café and bought the Garrett Hotel. After six months she turned it over to her brother Lee Winnett, at which time it became the “Hotel Greenup”. 1969 – The last meal was served in the old dining room. 1972 – The old hotel, at age 146, finally gives up the ghost. 1997 – The 100 year old Johnson Hotel building is relocated from a couple of blocks north to this location and restored for the Historical Society’s use. 2013 – The Cumberland County Historical Society has gone viral on the internet. Image #1 is a photo of part of the original Old National Road as it would have been like when Joseph Barbour built his first log cabin tavern/inn at this location in 1831.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Jun 2013 20:22:02 +0000
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