history

The History of Paci's
Kreppsville Inn of Malden

The Stables
During the construction of the western section of the house in 1830, the stable was also being built. It has housed many
animals and wagons and coaches over the years. The "uppin" stone, which is a solid two step stone that was used to get off
and on the horses and coaches, can still be found in the front yard.
In 1936, J.K. Kaupp (Jack Cuppie) and his wife Hanna converted the stable into the bar and restaurant. The business was
managed by Jim Sealy, Bill Edwards, Syl Colletti, Tom Parks and Pete Yorty, under Cuppies ownership.
In 1962, Tony Paci and his wife Lorraine bought the business from Cuppie. Tony managed the tavern until his death in 1994.
Lorraine preceded him in death in 1987.
The Paci children, Tony Jr., Rosalie, Corinne and Michelle, ran the place until 1999. Rosalie is the current owner and
presently occupies the inn.

The Kreppsville Inn of Malden was constructed between 1822 and 1830.
It was placed on the National Historic Register in 1970.
It is now the only standing Stage Coach Stop in Washington County

The Beginning
The National Pike is America's first "interstate"highway and the only one constructed totally from Federal
funds. The National Pike was built between 1811 and 1818 from Cumberland, Maryland to Wheeling, West
Virginia. Before the railroads conquered the Allegheny mountains in 1852, the National pike was the only means
of efficient trade and travel between the East and the West. Taverns and Inns became important for travelers
along the road. The emergence of Kreppsville Inn is directly linked to the opening of the National Pike. Shortly
before it was built, the first line of passenger coaches over the National Pike between Brownsville and Wheeling
passed through Washington County. It soon became apparent that stage travel on the Pike was going to be a
booming business. This was the leading incentive in prompting the Krepps family to build the Inn.

The Inn
The Eastern section of the house was built in 1822. The Western section was completed in 1830. This handsome
stone tavern is of English architecture with a central hallway, a wide stairway and massive double chimneys at
each end of the building. In the original construction, the two back "wing" sections were only one story high. The
second story sections were added later as maid chambers with narrow winding staircases to reach them. Upon
entering the inn the barroom occupied the front room to the left. Behind the barroom was the "movers" and
"coach mans" room where pioneers traveling West could rest and eat. This room was also used as a schoolroom
for many years. The Kitchen was directly behind the movers room. It has a fireplace that stretches the width of
the room. The barnyard and stables were built in 1830 along with the western section of the house to better
provide the travelers. The house currently has seven rooms downstairs, nine rooms upstairs, two large attic
rooms and three basement rooms. The construction of the house is of solid stone with the outside walls more
than a foot thick and massive hand hewed oak beams.

The Town
The Krepps family hoped that a town be developed around the inn and would be called Kreppsville. The stone on the front of the
house reads Kreppsville. However, legend has it that a group of hardy fighters from Malden, Massachusetts stopped at the inn.
During the course of the night, contention ran high in the barroom and before long the men decided the brawn instead of brains
was the way to put the word across their point. From that time on the town was known as Malden.

The Markers
On the western section of the house, above the fan shape window, you can find a stone with a double-headed eagle and the date 1822.
On the eastern section , on the front of the house, you can find another stone. Carved upon it is an eagle with a ribbon from tip to tip
of it's wings and upon it is "Liberty". At the side of the eagle are Kreppsville 1830 and a plow and a sheaf of wheat under the name.

The Spirits
Are there occupants in these building that are from time gone by? Are there travelers that stop by the inn to rest but no one can see
them? To some, the answers to these questions are definitely "yes". Spirits come in many forms. Some as a sound. Some as a smell.
Some we can touch and some we can see. And some, we can just feel it in our bones. Spirits have made their presence to many in all
of the above forms. Why? Maybe because Kreppsville Inn is still a great place for the weary to stop and rest.

The Present
The tavern and restaurant are owned and operated by Rosalie Paci-Miller. It is noted for fine home cooked meals and a
family setting. The house is currently occupied by Rosalie and her family. The family started restoring the house in 1993 and
are still at work.