A tavern, inn, or hotel has stood continuously on this site, Lot 17 in Crawfordville, since it was provided for in the town plan in 1826 by Hermon Mercer, who laid out the town. The original tavern, built by Gilbert Rossignol, a refugee from the French Revolution, stood near Locust Grove. That large two-story house with a broad veranda and columns was bought in 1826 by Sylvester B.J. Cratin and reerected on this site. It was operated by Mr. and Mrs. Anderson Little. The old tavern remained until 1902, when the present brick hotel was built.