The BARKER ROOM
Col. Joseph Barker (1765-1843)
Born in New Market,New Hampshire, September 9, 1765.
He was educated atPhillipsExeterAcademyinNew Hampshire, and afterward he became a Housewright and learned the trade of carpentry from his Father. A year after theMariettaarea was settled he traveled by ox cart fromAmherst,New Hampshirewith his father in law, Capt. William Dana. While at Simrell’s Ferry they were joined by Thomas Stanley ofConnecticut. The three friends built a boat and floated down toMarietta. Eventually, his wife Elizabeth Dana Barker joined him, and they produced 10 children.
Col. Barker built many of the finest homes in theMariettaarea, the Paul Fearing home, the William Skinner home, the Rev. Daniel Story home and the originalBlennerhassettMansionalong with several commercial structures, and drew plans for the first Courthouse, built in 1822.
In 1806 he was contracted to build 15 boats by his third cousin Aaron Burr to be used during the infamous Burr-Blennerhassett expedition. He is considered to be the first master builder-architect of theNorthwest Territory. Col. Joseph Barker held the positions ofCountyCommissioner, Associate Judge, Colonel in the State Militia, and State Representative before his death in 1843. He also left in the care of Dr. Samuel P. Hildreth a volume of manuscripts describing men and scenes of the early days in and aroundMariettato be titled, “Recollections of the First Settlement of Ohio.”
Room Rates
Sunday – Thursday $99 per night
Friday – Saturday $129 per night
Make a Reservation
Please call 740.374.4139 or visit our Reservations page to check on the availability of the Barker Room.
