Zelienople, a picturesque community of 3,000 and with a trading population of approximately 7,000 people, was named in honor of Zelie, the beautiful daughter of Baron Frederick William Dettmar Basse, who founded the town in 1803. Dr. Basse, Municipal Councilor of Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany; Ambassador of the Court of the Emperor Napoleon, and gentlemen of adventure, came to the United States in 1801, and purchased from the Philadelphia Land Company ten thousand acres of land in Northwestern Pennsylvania. A portion of this land contained the site on which Zelienople was later founded, and was at that time known as "The Creek Meadows".

Dr. Basse returned to Europe in 1806 and learned that his eldest daughter, Zelie had become engaged to Phillippe Louis Passavant, son of an ancient noble Huguenot family. Their marriage occurred June 10, 1807, and the couple accompanied the bride's father to America.

As early as 1837-three years before Zelienople was incorporated as a borough-three inns or taverns were already established. Among these was "The Cross Keys". It was constructed by John Randolph on the site of the present Kaufman House where you are a guest today. Its painted signboard bore the ancient papal insignia of The Cross and Keys, a popular tavern-board device of those early days.

From the earliest days in the history of the borough, Zelienople has been famed for its accommodations for travelers and almost from the beginning, the present site of the Kaufman House has been utilized by a succession of taverns, inns and hotels. The first on this location was the tavern and post office built by the Scotch-Irish Troy, Andrew McLure sometime before the year 1810.

Mr. McLure was succeeded as tavern-keeper by John Randolph who renamed the tavern the "The Cross Keys". Under the Name "Cross Keys", it was 1859 when William McKinley Bastian, of Lycoming County, Pa., bought the place and renamed it "The Bastian House".

In 1888, Henry W. Stokey purchased "Bastian House", rebuilt it and named it the "Grand Central" hotel. This he constructed until December 27, 1902 when, in Zelienople's great fire it was consumed. Mr. Stokey rebuilt the hotel essentially as it stands today and continued business until 1920, when the property was acquired by officers of the Union Rubber Company, which was operating a plant in Zelienople.

In July 1924, the late E.F. Kaufman purchased the hotel, remodeled it, and inaugurated a series of improvements, which made it one of the most popular hotels on Perry Highway between Pittsburgh and Erie.

Following Mr. Kaufman's untimely death, his widow, Mrs. Myrtle Kaufman, conducted the hostelry until April 1944, when it was purchased by William J. Thomas.

In 1974, The Kaufman Hotel was purchased by Ken and Marjorie Pilarski and was renamed The Kaufman House. The restaurant presently has 4 dining rooms, a coffee shop and lounge on the main floor. An additional dining room has been added on the second floor to accommodate 40 people for parties and banquets.

As you dine with us today, Kenneth and Douglas Pilarski extend to you the hearty welcome of the community and invite you to visit us in the future.