After 170-Year-Old Post Office Shuts Down, Man Converts It Into Unique Bed & Breakfast

Jan 15, 2019

Conventional thinkers usually have a list of things they want when they are thinking of a place to live. Typically their list includes how many bedrooms and bathrooms it has, where it's located and so on and so on.

A house or apartment usually fits the bill quite nicely for most.

Someone who is handy with tools and has a creative eye is someone who can look at an old building and find a place to live within. It critical that they have the skills to make their vision come true.

Renovated churches used as living spaces is not that uncommon. Their beautiful stained glass, vaulted ceilings, and unique architecture give these renovated home a distinct personality.

A renovated post office is on the rare list when it comes to living space. A 170-year-old post office drew Joe Keough's eye. He saw the possibility within this structure. He and his wife Dorrie, from Parkman, Ohio, own this quaint building. They love to give it the upkeep and care such an antique building requires.

The Keoughs had leased the building to the post office for decades. However, the postal service's lack of maintenance was showing. It got to the point where the couple could no longer lease it to the USPS.

The lease had been month-to-month since 2000. The Keoughs saw the neglect for themselves. The final straw was when someone left the heat too low in winter and the pipes burst, flooding the building. They wanted them out of the building.

What do you do with such an old building once the tenants are out? Joe decided to strip out the rotted parts of the building and rebuild. It got to be a bigger job than first suspected. He and his wife were spending a lot of time on the project.

Today, the space is a laid-back living space used a rental. Their Airbnb page advertise it as the "Old Postal Cottage", built in the 1840s, and used as the local post office until the middle of 2018. The building is completely renovated offering a cozy getaway with easy access to Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown and surrounding attractions.

The Keoughs have the satisfaction of saving a local landmark and offer people the chance to enjoy it.

Would you stay in this unique bed and breakfast? Let us know. Also, do you know of someone else who might be interested? Pass this story along to them.