Dog Team Tavern facts for kids
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Dog Team Tavern
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Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1338 Dog Team Rd., Middlebury, Vermont |
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| Built | 1936 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 02001381 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 21, 2002 |
| Removed from NRHP | March 22, 2016 |
The Dog Team Tavern was a famous restaurant in Middlebury, Vermont. It was known for its tasty food and unique style. The restaurant was located about four miles north of Middlebury, in Addison County. It sat in the beautiful Champlain Valley, near the Appalachian Mountains.
Sadly, the Dog Team Tavern burned down in September 2006. Many special items from the Grenfell Mission and Labrador were lost in the fire.
This cozy restaurant was a local favorite. People loved its big meal portions, especially the prime rib. A special part of every meal was the "relish wheel." This wheel had different yummy sides like corn relish, apple butter, and horseradish cottage cheese. It also had beets and sauerkraut. And don't forget the restaurant's famous sticky buns! They were always served at the start of each meal. Students from nearby Middlebury College often visited with their families. The Dog Team Tavern was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. It was removed from the list in 2016 after the fire.
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History of the Dog Team Tavern
The Dog Team Tavern building was first built in the 1920s. It was created by Sir Wilfred and Lady Anne Grenfell. They started it as a mission house in 1931. A mission house helps people in need.
In 1936, the building became the Dog Team Tavern. It started as a tea house. It also sold handmade crafts from Newfoundland and Labrador. Sir Wilfred and Lady Anne had retired to Charlotte, Vermont, in 1931. They built a home there called Kinloch House. Before the Dog Team Tavern, they opened other tea houses. These were in Ferrisburg, Vermont, and in Oxford and Guilford, Connecticut.
New Owners and Changes
In 1946, Eben and Catherine Joy bought the Dog Team Tavern. They bought it from the International Grenfell Association. The Joys turned it into a full restaurant. Later, they added a bar. This was a big deal because their town, New Haven, was "dry." This meant it was hard to get a license to sell alcohol.
Eben Joy and his second wife, Eileen, sold the restaurant in 1978. The new owner was Andrew Golbert. Then, in 1987, Chris Hesslink and Robert Mahoney bought it. Robert Mahoney left the business around 1996 or 1997. Chris Hesslink continued to run the restaurant until the fire in 2006.
Famous Visitors and Lost Treasures
Many famous people visited the Dog Team Tavern. These included Eleanor Roosevelt, Robert Frost, and Neil Diamond. Even Michael Eisner, who used to lead Disney, visited.
At first, the staff lived upstairs. The restaurant was only open during the summer. Later, it stayed open all year. There was also a small building next door. It was used as a gift shop in later years. But long ago, it was called The Dog Team Playhouse. People would put on shows there.
The 2006 fire sadly destroyed many unique items. These included a Grenfell overcoat and a child's snowsuit. There was also a huge collection of old political buttons. A beautiful Victorian dollhouse was lost. Other items included a hand-painted sign for orange soda. The hide of a wallaby and the head of a bear were also gone. Two Grenfell throw pillows with husky faces were lost. Original posters and articles about Sir Grenfell's work were destroyed. Two oil paintings of the restaurant and one of Sir Wilfred Grenfell were lost. A marble statue of snowdrifts with a little dogsled and dogs was also ruined. At least a dozen special Grenfell silk mats were lost too.
How Customers Were Served
The Dog Team Tavern had a very interesting way of serving its guests. When you arrived, the menu was on a big board. It was right inside the entrance. Customers would tell their names and orders there. Then, they would go inside to wait for their table. It was common to wait an hour or more during busy times!
While waiting, you could relax in the front parlor. It had comfy couches and old magazines like Life. Or, you could go to the bar area. There, you could enjoy horseradish cottage cheese dip with potato chips. There was also an outside porch. In earlier years, there was a gazebo and tables by the New Haven River. Benches outside even said "Vermont Democrats" and "Vermont Republicans."
Everyone talked about their relish wheel and sticky buns. The sticky buns were so popular that they were carefully given out. But you could often buy extra to take home! The restaurant also served small loaves of homemade bread. And you got a fresh salad with your choice of three special dressings. This was all before the main meal! First-time visitors often felt full before their entrees even arrived. Food was served family style. This meant big bowls of mashed potatoes and the vegetable of the day for everyone to share. Of course, there was a dessert menu too.
