New Rome: A History on the National Road

New Rome is closely connected to the National Road. When the settlement of Rome, later called New Rome, was founded, the road was an important east-west route. Anyone interested in historic transportation routes and the origins of settlements will find a clear thread here: the road was important beyond the region and also served as the point of reference for the town plan. Stagecoaches, taverns, and individual place names carry this story forward.

A settlement on the National Road

The settlement of Rome, later New Rome, was laid out with 32 lots on both sides of the National Road. The road was therefore not only an east-west connection, but also the axis along which the lots were arranged. This clearly illustrates the difference between transportation history and local history: one describes the route’s importance for travel between east and west, while the other describes how the settlement was laid out along the road. New Rome can thus be understood as a place whose origins are closely tied to an important transportation route.

Stagecoaches, weather, and taverns

The original National Road was unpaved. After heavy rain, oxen had to pull stagecoaches through the mud onto drier ground. The route’s importance as a major connection therefore went hand in hand with the conditions of traveling on an unpaved road. For local history, what is interesting is not only the route’s east-west direction, but also how a journey after rain could be shaped by the state of the ground.

Rome, later New Rome, became a popular stop for stagecoaches traveling east and west. The Yeager Home was built before the War of 1812 and, for many years even before the settlement was established, served as an important stagecoach stop and tavern. The Daniel McFarland Tavern was considered the best-known of several taverns in the Rome area. The comparison distinguishes a long-standing stagecoach stop from the particularly notable reputation of another tavern.

The chronology of transportation is also part of local history: the Columbus, London and Springfield Interurban Line began operating after 1915; according to this account, the stagecoach routes were discontinued after that.

Place names and changes

James D. Kinnaird lined the driveway to his house with maple trees; the road is now called Maple Drive. Local merchant O. G. Riebel was elected the first mayor and converted part of the porch beside his grocery store into a mayor’s office. The store was later demolished. These two stories connect a street name with local commercial and administrative history, without requiring a single landmark to take center stage.

As a geographical reference point, the New Rome neighborhood lies south of Broad Street, next to Prairie Norton Elementary School. Most of New Rome’s surviving houses have been converted into businesses; little of its 19th-century character remains.

History as a guide to choosing a location

If you are considering a vacation rental in New Rome, the historical topic you are interested in can be one factor in choosing where to stay. The National Road, the stagecoaches, and the settlement’s development offer a clear focus for travelers interested in transportation history. If, on the other hand, you are primarily looking for a largely preserved 19th-century streetscape, bear in mind that little of it remains. This can help you weigh the historical focus against your other travel plans.

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