The Log Inn building, itself, had its beginning in 1825, when a log structure was erected a year following the establishment of the stage coach line through the Warrenton area the previous year. This structure served as a stage coach stop and trading post. It is officially recognized by The Library and Historical Business Register of Indiana as “The Oldest Restaurant in Indiana”. Though the first three owners are not known by name, the fourth owner of the building and property was Henry Haub (the man after whom Haubstadt was named).
After passing owners a couple of times, from 1852-1867, another owner of the building named Meier Heiman did business in the log section of the establishment. In 1867, he called upon his brothers (Leon, Jacob, and JL) and two local carpenters (Heinrich Rudolph Loewenkamp and his son Henry) to build a new store and mule quarters. Meier and Leon Heiman were the general merchants; they operated the tavern and the store. Jacob and JL Heiman were stock dealers. Under the log section of the building was a full cellar, which was used during the Civil War period as a hiding place as part of the Underground Railroad.
After many more changes in ownership throughout the years, Peter Rettig took over in May of 1947. Mr. Rettig, a tool and die maker, continued to work at his trade, while his wife Victoria and father-in-law Peter Zenthoefer ran the Log Inn. In 1963, by a miracle, according to Mr. Rettig, he accidentally discovered the structure of the building was log and had a history behind it. It had been covered for 100 years. It took two years to uncover the building and clean it up. Nothing had to be repaired or replaced, which speaks to the expertise of the Loewenkamp carpenters who built the addition. The Lincoln Room is all hardwood and the 1867 addition is all yellow poplar. The “original log room” built in 1825 is the room in which Abraham Lincoln dined in 1844.
The photo below shows the front and sidewall view of the stagecoach stop. All the doors and windows were cut in when it was remodeled into living quarters in 1867. After being inspected by experts on methods of construction in different periods of time, the double angle interlocking of the logs at the corners is what determined that it was built in 1825.
*Information directly taken from “A History of the Haubstadt Area”, 2002, pages 13-15.
*Photo taken directly from the book mentioned above, page 15.
