The Rankin House - House of All Nations
Last updated 03 October 2020
This story was published in the Columbus Safeguard newspaper on August 22, 1912 and transcribed by Joanne Breen.
An Old Land Mark
The old hotel building at Crawfordsville, built more than sixty years ago, has been torn down and a new bank building is to be erected on the lot.
Editor Huber, of the Imprint, gathered up some information about the history of that old building and it is interesting, to be sure.
According to Huber the resolutions for the first republican state convention were drawn up in that building by Sam Rankin, a pioneer of Washington county.
Editor Huber induced Miss Sarah Crawford to give him a brief history of the noted tavern
and this is what she wrote:
The passing of the historic house, well known as the House of all Nations,
brings sad memories to those of us who well remember the building and builder,
Maj. S. E. Rankin. Tis sixty-one years ago since its erection. To build at that time took much more time than now. The lumber had to be cut down and sawed and kiln
dried. The first kiln full was burned on a Sabbath morning, but not so strict, but all flew to save some of it. But not disheartened the Major soon had men engaged,
engineered by George Hilton, in the timber getting out more logs. Though sixty-one years ago the ache comes into our eyes when we know the old historic house is to
be torn down and fine brick to be erected in its place, and we hope its future will be known and noted as the old one.
At that time there was a period of unrest between the political parties just as now, and this house was the nesting place of the anti-slavery party Mr. Rankin being
the leader. A book might have been written on its being the home of the fleeing slaves who were kept until it was safe to carry them on to the next underground
hotel near Columbus Junction know as Col. Baileys, and many a dusky son of Ham was indebted to him for succor, food and finally assured freedom.
At the time of the reorganization of the republican party many then prominent men from the district or the country at large were in attendance. The Rankin house was
full from first, second and third (garret) stories. The committee that drafted the platform, headed by the chairman, Prof. Oscar Howe, met in its parlor and we remember
well of building the fire, taking up a pitcher of water and setting the chairs in their proper places. Maj. Rankin kept a store of general merchandise, also the post
office for some years, and then it was rented for a restaurant, and at one time some strong drink (perhaps the kind Mr. Roosevelt says his doctor has ordered him to use)
was sold and one of the prominent teachers got too full and Maj. Rankin and others had it taken into the street and spilled, so one can readily see there were
prohibitionists in those days. Some twenty years ago the building was sold to Herman Haines and reopened for a hotel, and then Mr. Franklin took it and kept it well.
Now the ache and pain come to our eyes as we bid adieu to the dear old structure.
S.N.C.