Rowsburg’s history dates to 1835

ROWSBURG — Rowsburg (sometimes formerly referred to as Rows or Rowsburgh) is located in the eastern part of Ashland County in Perry Township.

Rowsburg was founded on April 15, 1835. It has been reported that Rowsburg provided the most volunteers for the Civil War from this area.

Michael D. Row came to Ashland with his father, Michael Sr., who gave him some land which would eventually become Rowsburg.

Row first tried to establish a village on the Muddy Fork about ½ mile southeast of Rowburg, but was unable to sell any lots so he returned to Pennsylvania. The younger Row later returned to the area, founded Rowsburg at its present location west of the Muddy Fork, and established it as a trading center.

The first lot was sold to Jacob Curr for $34. The founders of Rowsburg felt what they were starting would prosper because in other nearby areas there were flourishing farms, and the farmers would be attracted to the trading, mail and other businesses to eventually be located in town.

In 1860, 200 people called Rowburg home. By 1880, the downtown was host to two stores, two taverns, a wagon and blacksmith shop, a large tannery, cabinet shop, and two harness manufacturers. It was also home to a shoe and cobber shop, two doctor’s offices, a stove and tin shop, a weaver, millinery store, three churches, a school and post office.

As the village grew, Rowsburg also became a relay station for the stagecoach line. A private residence built in 1865, was modified into the Grand Central Hotel and stage coach stop and served the public from 1876 to 1938.

It was known for its affordable but excellent food and accommodations. It was constructed in 1864-65 possibly by David and Mary Kesler. The home has elements of the Italianate style with a stone foundation. A pond was located behind the hotel.

Hiram Lucas purchased it in 1876 and lived there for 62 years. His wife was a wonderful cook and served many dinners to local families, travelers and service groups. The hotel had spacious rooms for entertaining prominent people. Friends and schoolmates of Alavesta Hohenschil Myers (Mrs. F. E. Myers) who was also from Rowsburg, once held a special dinner in her honor in 1919.

The hotel later became a grocery store owned by Bertha Kadow and Lillie Stone in 1938. Bart Pritchett also owned the grocery store and sold it to James E. Dravenstott in 1969. The grocery ceased to exist when the building was sold to Richard Stoll in 1973.

Former dentist and antique dealer, Dorell V. Tucker made it an antique shop. The building has changed over the years due to it being both a private residence as well as several types of businesses.

Rowsburg School, located along U.S. Route 250, was built from brick with stone quoins on the corners. It was referred to as a “classy” school at that time because it had a water pump and playground equipment.

U.S. 250 used to sit farther away from the school when highway was just a brick road. Later, widening made the school closer to the highway. The school housed between 65 and 80 children and was broken up into two rooms. The “Little Room” housed the first through fourth graders and the “Big Room” housed the fifth through eighth graders.

Children drank from a single dipper that sat outside with the water pump. The property had an outhouse for each sex and they used old magazines as toilet paper. Playground equipment was donated.

Rowsburg School closed its doors in 1939, but the building has always been the center of village activities. The original school bell still hangs in the bell tower. In the late 1990’s, the building was still utilized as a voting location and poll workers had to use the old outhouse.

The Rowsburg Lions Club now uses the building as their headquarters and a community meeting place.

Rowsburg became what would later be described in the 1980’s as one of the most attractive villages in Ashland County due to a variety of architectural styles, sitting on a hill with the houses close together and virtually untouched by modern society.

It still remains much the same way today. The Grand Central Hotel building is still standing and located at 163 US 250 East at the southeast intersection of U.S. 250 and County Road 1302.