Story

A piece of living history

Prior to becoming the Black Diamond Tavern, the building was constructed in 1877 for Thomas Hughes. Mr. Hughes used the ground floor as a saloon and the upstairs was used for entertainment functions (brothel). The original red brick front was removed in 1906. This building was home to the Shawnee Bank and was renovated. As America was in the throes of the Great Depression, the Hocking Valley was hit especially hard. In 1933, the Shawnee Bank closed its doors. However, the bank’s closure in 1933, did not prove to be an end. By the 1940s, the building was home to the Shawnee Grill and has served as the town’s bar in some capacity since. The latest incarnation was the Desperado’s Bar & Grill which closed in 2016.

Together with our parent company, Black Diamond Development, we are working hard to help restore and revitalize the Little Cities of Black Diamond region.