In 1802 John James Dufour, founder of the town and local vineyards, purchased the land in the Northwest Territory.  Another French-speaking Swiss, Louis Gex Oboussier, bought it from him and developed it in 1805.

    They called Indian Creek "Venoge" after a river in their Swiss homeland, but the Gex farm cottage shows the influence of French colonial architecture of the lower Mississippi Valley, extremely rare (if not unique) in the Ohio Valley.

    Its posts-on-sill timber frame was precisely measured and symmetrical ... mortise-joined and wood-pegged throughout.  Brick nogging insulation supported the first floor plaster, hand-split accordion lath the second.  A grand walnut mantel surrounded the cooking fireplace.

A new museum, historic park and nature preserve are proposed for the site.