Kelton House – A Great Piece Of American History

Kelton house is a 150 year old piece of Columbus history. This historic home was built by Fernando Cortez Kelton and it is the cornerstone of the Town Street Historic District. Fernando was a wholesaler for dry goods and pharmaceuticals and was very prosperous. The home has a simple beauty where it exhibits the Greek Revival period showing elements of an Italianate style and the gardens offer hedges, statues, diverse plants, lattice work, and mixed perennial borders that give the garden a Victorian feeling.

Images provided via google.com

Some interesting facts about the Kelton house and what makes this house so historic in nature: the Kelton’s were active supporters of the abolitionist movement and assisted fugitive slaves. The family would hide the runaways in the barn in the back of the building in a 300 barrel cistern or in the servants’ quarters. Sophia Kelton, Fernando’s wife, found Martha Hartway, a 10 year old little girl, hiding in the shrubbery alongside their home. Unheard of in 1864, but the Kelton’s accepted Martha into their home and she was raised and educated by the Kelton family.

The Kelton house also offers lectures and programs that delve into 19^th century topics and are held year round and on the second Sunday of each month the Museum presents “Trails of Hope” a historic reenactment of stories of the Underground Railroad. They also offer tours on Sundays from 1-4pm with a costumed docent. A special tour entitled “experiential tours” provide vivid first person meetings with Sophia Kelton who shares her family secret with you, these tours require a reservation.

Audio tours are available Monday – Friday from 10am-4pm without an appointment and group tours are available by appointment. The collection of furniture, china, paintings, silver, crystal, books, music boxes, family photos, and records can be seen while on one of the tours and is most original to the family.

For more information or to contact for an appointment to see this rich piece of Ohio history, visit here.