Step into the Silver Spring House and you're stepping into more than just a neighborhood staple—you're walking through over 160 years of local history.

It all began in 1856 when Charles Krocker built a cozy log cabin tavern on what was then fresh frontier land—this would later become known as the Krocker House. Fast-forward to 1904, and John Kleist took things up a notch, constructing a new tavern space called The Silver Spring House, now the building’s northeast back dining room.

In 1915, Kleist rolled the original Krocker House on actual logs to join it with the Silver Spring House. After that bold move, he revamped it and even ran a cigar factory from inside. By the 1930s, it had transformed into a lively dance hall, where a dime could get you a dance. Around 1980, it was converted once again—this time into the dining room you know and love today.

Ownership passed through the hands of Al Hahm in 1935, who renamed it The Park Tavern, but the iconic name was revived in 1972 by Doug Siewert. Siewert brought new energy and vision to the space—converting the dance hall into formal dining, paving the west patio, and enclosing the “garten” room by 1991. After 27 years of dedication, Siewert passed in 2002, and in April 2003, Connell and two longtime managers took over, keeping the heart of Silver Spring House alive and thriving.