HISTORICAL KINSMAN Tour offers view inside 8 places

A church and the public library are also included in the biennial tour.
By REBECCA SLOAN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
KINSMAN -- During the 1920s, hundreds of people flocked from near and far for dinner at Kinsman's famed Colonial Tearoom.
During the tearoom's heyday, it wasn't unusual for as many as 600 folks to sit down for Sunday supper in the spacious, circa-1833 eatery, which once served as a stagecoach stop between Warren and Meadville, Pa.
After the tearoom closed down, it became a commercial building offering office space to dentists, doctors and lawyers.
Although the former stagecoach stop continued to wield a commanding presence on the town square, it was evident by the dawn of the 21st century that the proud, old tavern was in need of some tender loving care.
That's when township resident Richard Thompson stepped in.
Thompson purchased the 7,000-square-foot structure in 2002 and has since taken on the daunting task of restoring it to its original glory.
"The building needed saved. It has such significant historical value," Thompson said.
What was done
So far, Thompson has gutted the post-and-beam building, installed all new windows and is in the process of replacing some of the original woodwork.
Thompson has also rewired and replumbed the home, meanwhile discovering a hidden fireplace.
Local residents who are curious about Thompson's progress can step into the former tearoom and see for themselves what's being done during the Kinsman Historical Society's biennial home tour.
The tour will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Tickets cost $8 and can be purchased the day of the tour at the Kinsman United Methodist Church at 8362 Main St.
The former Colonial Tearoom is just one of eight stops on the tour.
Other featured historical homes include the Charlotte and Benjamin Allen Jr. House at 8710 State Route 7; the Thomas Kinsman House at 8845 State Road; the Rodney Clark House at 8349 State Road; the Frank W. Fobes House at 8248 Main St.; and the Octagon House at 8405 Main St.
The Kinsman United Methodist Church and the Kinsman Public Library are also included on the tour.
In addition, the day's festivities will feature a farmer's market on the town square with local produce and Amish baked goods and a three-dealer antiques sale one block north of the square.
About the homes
The Charlotte and Benjamin Allen Sr. House was built around 1841 but was extensively remodeled during the late 1800s to resemble a Victorian-style residence. The home had electricity as early as 1905 and features gorgeous woodwork and lovely six-panel doors. Charlotte Stull, the home's present owner, has many wonderful and humorous tales to share about the house.
The Thomas Kinsman House was built about 1860 in the style of an Italianate villa for Thomas Kinsman, son of John Kinsman, the town's founder. A 1981 fire gutted a portion of the house, but it has been lovingly restored to its original beauty. The grand home features a spiral staircase, seven fireplaces and a basement wine cellar added by the present owners, Tim and Joni Jo Woofter.
The Rodney Clark House was also built in the style of an Italianate villa. This delightful home features a slate roof, a sprawling front porch and wormy chestnut paneling that came from trees that once grew on the property. Margaret Jones owns the property.
The hollow-block construction of the Frank W. Fobes House made it all the rage when it was built back in 1896. A stylish, new trend, hollow blocks were touted as fireproof and weather-tight. Before the Williams family lovingly restored the home, it was a rooming house, an apartment building and an insurance office. A large porch was added to the home in 1910, and a charming carriage house still stands on the property.
Darrow's home
Arguably the most popular home in town, Kinsman's Octagon House was the boyhood home of famed attorney Clarence Darrow and is currently owned by Eleanor Brown. The home was built in 1853, and its sturdy walls were constructed of stucco-covered boards. When octagon-style homes burst onto the scene in the mid-1800s, they promised comfort, space and convenience, and visitors to Kinsman's Octagon House will be surprised at its spaciousness. Its many nooks and crannies will also delight them.
The present-day Kinsman United Methodist Church was built in 1917. The stately brick structure features many beautiful stained-glass windows. Home tour patrons can purchase an additional ticket for a church luncheon to be served the day of the tour.
In 1912 the town's Library Association persuaded the Carnegie Corp. to donate $7,000 toward a new library. Although the Kinsman Public Library has expanded during the last few years, the original, circa-1913 portion of the building remains handsomely in tact. Home tour visitors may peruse the library's lower-level local history room, which includes artifacts from Kinsman's founding family.