Looking west toward the 5 Points Inn at the intersection of Neeb, Rapid Run, and Devil’s Backbone roads as it looked in the late 1950s. Neeb is the crossroad. Rapid Run continued to the left of the Inn, while Devil’s Backbone begins to the right of the Inn.
by Ray Grothaus
The intersection of Rapid Run, Neeb and Devils Backbone has a long and interesting history. What were just farms in 1890 became the home of a roadside inn, a well-known blacksmith and an industrious family who built and/or occupied 4 houses a few feet north the juncture.
The first family to come to this crossroads was John G. Bens and his wife Mary Hausman Bens. John was a blacksmith who learned his trade from Sothaneses Fischesser whose shop was just up the road at Neeb and Cleves Warsaw. John was obviously successful as he operated his business from 1895 until his death in 1940. The company letterhead read: “John Bens Blacksmith and Horseshoer. All kinds of Blacksmithing promptly attended to and satisfaction given. Horseshoeing a specialty.” He was true to his advertising as the Historical Society has in its archives a 1921 bill of sale for iron bars, blocks, winch hooks as well as pick and hammer handles.
The parcel included the family home (John and Mary had 6 children) the blacksmith shop and a large barn. Three of the children never married and remained on the property for most of their lives. Harry Huber operated a carpenter business there for a while in the late ‘50s.
John Bens Blacksmith Shop on Neeb Road around 1900.
The next entrepreneur to ply his trade there was Lawrence Imholte and his wife Caroline Bachscheider Imholte who opened a roadside inn about 1900. Their enterprise served travelers needing a place to rest after a long journey with their wagons and horses. They were the original owners of the famous 5 Points Inn/Tavern which occupied this spot for more than 60 years.They provided not only refreshments but also a place to stay if needed.
Here is an image of the intersection from the 1914 Hamilton County Atlas, showing how the 5-point intersection was aligned. the property marked Caroline Imholte is where the tavern stood.
Ownership changed hands many times through the decades and not all owners actually lived at the property. Once trucks gave farmers the freedom to drive places quickly, the Inn ceased renting rooms. Beginning in 1920, the business was sold 5 times before Harry and Stella Cole purchased it in 1928. The Coles were good stewards and were well liked by their patrons. The Joseph and Otilda Ludwig family were so close to the Coles that one of Joe and Tillie’s sons shares Harry’s name; James Harry Ludwig!
The tavern was closed during the war years and then in 1946 it was bought by Henry “Whitey” Aufderhaar. He and his son Robert’s names are on the deed but neither lived there or operated the bar. They left those duties to Bob and Louise Hopping. Pioneer Vending currently owns the land, leasing the barbershop and bar to Greg Lanzilotta and Al Wittich.
Members of the John Conrad Ludwig family have lived in Delhi since 1860. John C., Jr. married Caroline Tuchfarber and for the first few years of their marriage lived on the Tuchfarber farm, west of 5 Points at what is now 5851 Rapid Run. John worked on road crews in Hamilton County for more than 30 years and was a Delhi constable for 3 decades as well. In 1906, junior took a leap of faith and purchased a dozen acres from William Feldwisch north and west of 5 Points. The land encompassed everything from the John Bens property up to Selhorst florist and was more than 500 feet wide. The acreage included the home at 942 Devils Backbone where John and Caroline initially took up residence.
This view heading north on Neeb Road toward Rapid Run was taken around 1960. The Bens Blacksmith barn sits beyond the Bens house (white building with the red roof.) Several of the Ludwig houses are shown north of the barn, and then St. John’s Church with its steeple still attached. On the east side of Neeb, you can see Delhi’s original police station (white one story building). Later this would be razed for the Delhi Township Administration building.
Through the next 44 years, John and his son were responsible for the construction of three additional homes on this land; 969, 957 and 923 Neeb. John and Caroline’s only child to survive into adulthood was Joseph. He married Otilda Kirchman in 1915 but lived with his parents for a few years until starting his own family at which time they moved into 969 Neeb. When Caroline passed away, Joe, Tillie and their kids Letta, Edna, John, Helen, Joe, Jr. and Jim moved into 957 to live with Pop. Shortly after John died, the family moved to 942 Devils Backbone where they stayed until relocating to east Delhi in 1951
.In 1964, Hamilton County decided to re-route Devils Backbone and Rapid Run roads, eliminating the little island where 5 Point Tavern sat along with the blacksmith/carpenter shop land. A park occupies the space now appropriately named 5 Points Park. Another bright spot for the area is the former John C. Ludwig property. All homes that he built or lived in are still standing and occupied in 2019.