By Marci Piltz

Record-Courier staff writer

NELSON -- A July 17 fire destroyed not only one man's hard work but also part of township history dating back more than 200 years.

The home, at 9265 S.R. 305, is believed to be the site of the first habitable structure in Nelson, with the base being erected in the early 1800s by Capt. Delaun Mills, one of the township's pioneer settlers.

Joe Bytnar, who had been living in the house with his girlfriend Beth Anderson, was home at the time of the blaze and was taken to Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna for treatment of smoke inhalation. Anderson was not home at the time, but both said they have heard the house had great historical value in the township.

Bytnar said he believed the home was built around 1804 and was used as a stopping point for travelers, though historical literature found on the Internet indicates it could have been built as early as 1801.

James Turos, a longtime township trustee, said he thought the home may have been built closer to 1824 but also said it was built by one of the Mills brothers.

Delaun, Asahel and Isaac Mills of Becket, Mass., came to what is now Nelson in 1800, and Delaun Mills and his family settled permanently there a few months later. He and his brother, Asahel, and their families were the only permanent settlers in the community until 1803. Delaun Mills' home, on what is now S.R. 305, west of Nelson Center, was a pioneer stopping place and tavern.

In the early morning of July 17, Bytnar said he was "dozing in and out of sleep, watching TV," when he woke up gasping for air. That's when he saw smoke and called 911.

Garrettsville-Freedom-Nelson Fire Department Chief David Friess said a call was received at 12:28 a.m. alerting authorities to the fire.

"The fire was fully involved when we got on the scene, and we didn't clear the scene until 6:18 a.m.," he said. "The house is a total loss, and we're putting the damage estimate at $175,000 for the house and contents."

Friess said the home has been remodeled several times and the frame was an old-style post-and-beam construction.

"It's a shame, because it really was a beautiful house inside," Friess said.

The cause of the fire is undetermined, though Friess said investigators know what room the blaze started in.

Also, he said, the home had smoke detectors but they did not have working batteries in them.

Anderson said there was insurance on the property but not on the contents.

"Joe's friend owns a trailer in Middlefield and is letting us stay there until we get situated, but we lost everything. The only room not completely burnt was the laundry room, and I had just done laundry that morning so all the clothes were in the closets," she said. "We did find a container of shoes that suffered just a little bit of soot damage, but other than that, we have nothing left. It's all gone."

Anderson said she contacted the American Red Cross earlier this week; however, since the organization was not contacted sooner, she was told there was nothing the group could do.

"At the time of the fire, the fire chief did ask where we were going to stay, and Joe said maybe his brother's, but the Red Cross wasn't contacted soon enough," she said.

Bytnar said he is concerned about "rubber-neckers" who are stopping to look at the fire damage and poke around in the remains.

"It's just very unsafe right now, and they're ignoring the signs we've posted," he said.

While Anderson said the friend of hers and Bytnar's that is offering his trailer for their use said they could stay as long as they need, they're hoping it isn't long.

"I definitely want to rebuild out there; it's beautiful property," Bytnar said.