oberlin ohio bed and breakfast
14945 Hallauer Rd. Oberlin, OH 44074

House History

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Union Soldier standing guard

History begins!

Driving up to the white house on the hill, one can only wonder what history this house holds. Did it just watch the 1858 Oberlin-Wellington Rescue take place? Or maybe it was an active participant? Did it offer refuge to escaping slaves on their journey to freedom on the Underground Railroad? The dry cistern and the hidden opening in the cellar suggest it may have. Only the house knows for sure!

This historical house with eyes to the past stands on the diagonal road that connects Elyria to Wellington.  This road by-passes Oberlin, the town that some believe is the town that started the Civil War! ( Come as a guest to find out why)!  It witnessed the abduction of John Price, which many believe began a chain of events that were not settled until well over 600,000 Americans gave their lives to end the question of slavery and the Civil War.

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Hole in floor board above crawl space

Hallauer House was built by Nathan Smith in 1830 in the Greek Revival style. But it was the Orlando Hall family

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Basement opening to crawl space under floor

who lived here during the Civil War era and whom we believe, offered the house as a stop on the Underground Railroad.  The dry cistern, the hidden dirt floor in the basement, and the pine board floor plug over that dirt floor are all evidence that the house may indeed have played a role in American history. 

Your journey back in time begins with the clang-clang  of the 1860 doorbell.

The massive door squeaks open to allow you inside. Immediately you begin to feel the presence of the past as it meets the promise of tomorrow. Come with us as we take you on the tour of historical Hallauer House, our Civil War themed Bed and Breakfast. Explore history, feel history, enjoy history.

The House of The Present

The house of today maintains many features of the past – original floors and doors, and original fireplaces and woodwork. The floor board with the hidden plug and the dirt crawl space underneath also remain. Added have been many amenities and three room additions – a large great room, a spa bath, and a rec room/exercise room. Outside there is now a hexagon gazebo, a pavilion, a garage, a roof garden, a swimming pool, a hot tub, ponds connected by a stream, and many, many garden rooms. These are all here for our guests to enjoy.

When you visit you will slow down, feel the past. Take a walk in the garden and along the way stop and smell the roses.