The Early Years Since much of the land in Bath, Ohio was not considered desirable because it is rough and precipitous, the area was not settled as early as some neighboring townships. The first European settlers arrived on the land around 1810. Crown Point's property was part of the 1,100 acres purchased by Jason Hammond, a farmer, miller and merchant from Bolton, Connecticut.



The tax records for Crown Point indicate that Jacob and Abigail Swigart built a home here in 1854 using hand-hewn wood from the property. Between 1862 and 1879 the property changed hands four times. In 1879 the property was purchased by Roswell Hopkins Jr. for $9,300. Although the Hopkins family owned the property until 1949 they never chose to live here.



A 1910 appraisal of the Crown Point property indicates the following features: 110 acres plow land - GOOD; 23 acres pasture - FAIR; 15 acres timber - FAIR; house - FAIR; barn - NEW. The present barn at Crown Point was constructed in around 1910. Oral history has it that the previous barn burned down when renting farmers built a fire to keep their baby pigs warm.



In 1949 the property was purchased by Hugh and Mary Ann Stoller. By this time most of the buildings were in desperate need of repair. The original 1854 house was completely stripped down to the posts and beams. The basement, which was originally only four feet deep, was excavated by hand. A living room and master bedroom were added. Most of the wood for the restoration was obtained from trees on the property and milled in the barn. Butternut was used for the fireplace and the bedroom was finished with native oak.