Hathaway's Tavern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hathaway's Tavern
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | 255 N. Main St., St. Albans, Vermont |
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| Area | 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) |
| Built | 1793 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 83003209 |
| Added to NRHP | July 14, 1983 |
Hathaway's Tavern is a very old building in St. Albans, Vermont. It was built way back in 1793, making it the oldest building still standing in the city! For a short time, it was even used as the main office for the Franklin County government. Since 1805, it has been a private home. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 because of its importance.
Contents
What Does Hathaway's Tavern Look Like?
The old Hathaway's Tavern building is located near the northern edge of St. Albans. You can find it on the east side of North Main Street. It sits on a small hill, which makes it stand out from the buildings around it.
Building Features
The building is a two-story house made of wood. It has a special type of roof called a hip roof. The outside is covered with clapboard siding. Look closely at the edge of the roof, and you'll see decorative blocks called modillions. The main front door is in the middle. It has windows on both sides and a small, gabled porch over it. This porch style is called Colonial Revival.
Inside the Old Tavern
Inside, the house has a layout called a Georgian center hall plan. This means there are large hallways in the middle. When the building was a tavern, these halls were used for parties and gatherings. Later, when it became a home, these spaces were changed to fit family life.
The Story of Hathaway's Tavern
The story of Hathaway's Tavern begins with a man named Silas Hathaway. He was a wealthy immigrant from England. Silas came to the St. Albans area in 1788.
Building the Tavern
In 1789, Silas bought a farm on North Main Street. He then built this tavern in 1793. The building has a strong frame made from hand-cut timbers. Some of the sawn wood used for the building came all the way from a sawmill in Whitehall, New York. It was shipped across Lake Champlain!
A Place for Government and Mail
From 1797 to 1801, Hathaway's Tavern was a very important place. It served as the meeting spot for the county court of Franklin County. This means it was where important legal decisions were made for the area. For a while, it also worked as the local post office, where people would send and receive mail.
From Tavern to Home
Silas Hathaway eventually moved away to Swanton. He owned several mills there. Sadly, he lost all his money and died in 1831 without any wealth.
In 1800, a man named Asa Fuller bought the tavern. He kept running it as a public inn until 1805. Then, he sold the building to Doctor Julius Hathaway. Doctor Hathaway decided to turn the tavern into a private home. The building stayed in his family until 1931.
