Less than eight miles from the birthplace of Thomas Edison, this incredible Victorian-era home once stood, a brilliant reminder of the grandeur of homes built during the Victorian era. This old Victorian-era home in Milan, Ohio was once a beautiful testament to that part of our architectural history. Though dilapidated and rotting away, covered in mold, mildew, algae and moss, the beauty of its architectural grandeur could still shine through. Vines made their way up the sides of the home, slowly beginning to swallow it back into the Earth. The walls were covered in patches of green and brown from the algae and rust as decay soaked into the siding. It was only a matter of time before this home was gone forever, either to the Earth itself, or to a wrecking ball.

Michael Schaeffer and Mary Elizabeth (Gambee) Schaeffer moved with their nine children to Milan, Ohio in 1843, where they settled on a farm that Michael purchased from John Williams. In Milan, they would have another five children. From 1843 until 1850, the family resided in a log cabin house on the property, until Mr. Schaeffer decided to construct this beautiful 3200-square-foot Victorian home. Barns and a silo were added to the property sometime around 1890, and from there it would continue to operate as a farm, as the McLane family would continue to grow crops and raise cattle.

Michael sold the home and farm to his son-in-law, Robert D. McLane in 1914. Robert moved in with his wife, Loviah, and their four children, who had all left Stuben, Greenfield Township, Ohio. After moving to Milan, the McLane family would welcome one more child. The family would live in the home, which at the time had become known as the “Schaeffer House” until 1924. It was then that the McLane family would decide to move to a farm just north of Milan on River Road. Mr. McLane worked on his farm until finally retiring in 1948 at the age of 69.

When the family left the home, it’s unclear if they remained owners of the property, or sold it to someone who would then later sell it to another family. It’s difficult to track too much of the passing of ownership over the years, but it was sold by Peter and Gertrude Williams to Floyd F. and Hazel R. Fletcher in 1961. The farm was sold again shortly after, this time purchased by William C. and Ruby P. Robbins in 1962, who would sell the farm once more in 1964 to a Robert and Miriam Zimmerman. Firelands Investment & HO purchased the house and property in 1968, and kept ownership for the next 29 years. The property was then sold by Firelands Investment & HO for $1.1 million to Lisa and Edwin Coles on June 17, 1997. On May 17, 2016 they sold it to DC Land & Cattle Inc., who remains the property owner as of August 2019.
While some structures remain on the property, the home was burned down in 2016, leaving a vacant lot where it once stood. Not much, if anything remains of this historic home. I’m glad I at least have these photos to share.

Many descendants of the Schaeffer, McLane and Williams families remain, and most of them can recall times spent in the home, or have at least heard stories passed down in their family about how beautiful the home once was.

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