Hook's Tavern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Hook's Tavern
|
|
Hook's Tavern's front elevation viewed from U.S. Route 50.
|
|
 Hook's Tavern
Location in Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia
Hook's Tavern
Location in West Virginia
Hook's Tavern
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Junction of U.S. Route 50 & Smokey Hollow Road (County Route 6), Capon Bridge, West Virginia |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Capon Bridge, West Virginia |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000260 |
| Added to NRHP | April 29, 2011 |
Hook Tavern is a historic building located near Capon Bridge in Hampshire County, West Virginia. It was once a popular stop for travelers along the Northwestern Turnpike, which is now U.S. Route 50. This old building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 29, 2011, recognizing its important past.
Contents
A Glimpse into the Past
Hook Tavern was built a long time ago, sometime between the 1790s and 1809. It stands in the Mill Branch valley, close to Bear Garden Mountain. The land originally belonged to Peter Mauzy, one of the first settlers in Hampshire County.
The Hook Family's Era
In 1840, the Hook family bought the property. They soon started using the building as a tavern, a place where travelers could eat, drink, and rest. Samuel Hook and John B. Sherrard even got a special license on May 26, 1848, to run it as a full hotel. Samuel Hook renewed this license in 1862, showing it was a busy place.
During the Civil War
The tavern played a small role during the American Civil War. On February 3, 1862, a Confederate Army officer named J. A. Hunter needed shelter for 80 sick soldiers. Because of very bad weather, he had to take over Samuel Hook's tavern and use its wood to keep his men warm and comfortable.
Hidden Messages from the Past
In July 1956, during some renovations, workers found interesting messages written on a plaster wall. One message said, "William C. Black, May 7, 1845." Other funny notes included, "I can throw any mule driver on the road, John New," and "Too much snuff, McCauley," dated May 7, 1853. These messages give us a peek into the lives of people who stayed there long ago.
Changing Hands Over Time
The Hook family and their relatives owned the tavern and the land around it for many years, from 1840 until 1987. Then, a real estate developer named Edward Noble from Atlanta, Georgia, bought it. In 2009, the tavern and its three acres of land were put up for sale. Today, the property is a junk store, owned by Judson Eversole.
Building Design
Hook Tavern has an interesting shape, like the letter "L" or an "ell." One part of the building runs along U.S. Route 50, and the other part runs along Smokey Hollow Road. The building is covered with clapboard, which are long, thin boards that overlap.
Unique Features
The tavern is a two-story building, but its floors are at three different heights. This suggests that the building was constructed in several stages over time. The front of the tavern, facing U.S. Route 50, has a nice two-story porch. Inside, the oldest part of the building has a very large fireplace. This fireplace has special hooks called "printles" where a crane would swing pots over the fire for cooking. Hook Tavern is quite large, with about 4,000 square feet of space. It has ten rooms and two bathrooms.
Image gallery
