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Lost Mansions Of Columbus: The Hayden Homestead

This gorgeous mansion might be known as The Hayden Homestead, but it was home to many prominent Columbus residents in the 60+ years it stood.

The house was built by Dr. Francis Carter in 1842. At the time, Columbus was experiencing a population boom. Industries were growing and Columbus was becoming better connected to the rest of the state through railroads and telegraph lines.

Carter was a professor at Starling Medical College and he built the home as a wedding present for his wife, Belle Espy. It was a grand home but the Carters didn’t live there long.

Salmon P. Chase when he served as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.

By 1857, Governor Salmon P. Chase had purchased the home. He resided there from 1858-1859 where the home had the honor to serve as the Governor’s Mansion.

Prior to serving as Governor, Chase had a law firm in Cincinnati where he was a vocal protester of slavery and frequently defended enslaved people who had escaped. In 1860, Chase attempted to run for president, but the Republican National Convention chose Abraham Lincoln instead.

Photo of Hayden Homestead, taken in 1908. Photo via CML

After that, the mansion became home to Charles H. Hayden, the Secretary and Treasurer of P. Hayden Saddlery Hardware Company. In 1910, the home was sold for the last time to the Knights of Columbus.

The Hayden Homestead, like so many homes from the late 19th century, has since been torn down. It stood at 80 S 6th Street in the Discovery District.

If the historic homes and buildings of Columbus are of interest to you, I highly suggest that you check out A Historical Guidebook to Old Columbus: Finding the Past in the Present in Ohio’s Capital City. This fantastic book takes a look at our city through a historic lens and if you’re anything like me, you won’t be able to put it down.

Additionally, the Columbus Metropolitan Library is an invaluable resource when researching local history.