Jury Room Pub and Whiskey Bar, Columbus

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The building housing the Jury Room was built in 1831 as an Inn/Tavern to accommodate visitors to the Courthouse (across the street), or business men coming to the Brewery District. There has been a continuously operating tavern since that time. Even during prohibition it operated as a speakeasy being attached to the rear building which was built in the 1860's (with a reported shady use for the pleasure of public officials).

The building was originally three stories until the turn of the twentieth century when a fire destroyed the third floor and extensively damaged the second floor. It is now two stories with a finished attic. The Jury Room boasts a tin ceiling that was installed after the fire and an original beer hall sign hangs from a beam inside with a replica outside. The top portion of the back bar was built in the 1860's and the lower part is from the 1920's. There is an article, written in the May 6, 1979 Columbus Dispatch, hanging on the wall. It shows the building in 1870 as a three story, housing the F.J. Gaiser Saloon and Boarding house. The kitchen was originally upstairs.

During the Civil War it housed Union Officers in charge of a nearby Confederate prison camp.

There is evidence of a ghost, however, other than strange things happening, unexplained noises and guest and employee experiences such as; when anyone is alone in the building unexplained things can happen; the gas fireplace will come on by itself, lights will come back on after they have been turned out. The back gate will squeak as though someone is coming through, but it's locked.

No one has actually encountered the spirit so we don't know who or why they are here. My favorite theory is "she" is one of the "ladies" that may have had a less than natural end. Another is that it is a cook that worked here before the 1900's. (This theory is from a carpenter that was working in the offices upstairs.