Snodgrass Tavern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Snodgrass Tavern
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 Location in West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | West of Hedgesville on WV 9 |
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| Area | .27 acres (0.11 ha) (original) 205 acres (83 ha) (boundary increase) |
| Built | 1742 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001896 (original) 06000172 (boundary increase) |
| Added to NRHP | April 24, 1973 (original) March 22, 2006 (boundary increase) |
Snodgrass Tavern is a very old building located near Hedgesville in Berkeley County, West Virginia. It started as a building around 1742. This makes it one of the oldest buildings still standing in West Virginia today.
It became a tavern, which was like an inn or hotel, where travelers could stop to eat and rest. During times of conflict in the 1750s, people even hid inside the tavern for safety. The tavern was open until 1847. After that, it became a private home. Today, Snodgrass Tavern and the land around it are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
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A Look Back: Snodgrass Tavern's Story
It is not fully clear who built the very first parts of Snodgrass Tavern. Some stories say that in 1732, a man named Lord Fairfax gave William Snodgrass a large piece of land. William then supposedly started building the tavern there.
However, other stories suggest that John Ford began the first construction. He later sold the land to the Rawlings family, who then sold it to Robert Snodgrass in 1779. Even with these different stories, the Snodgrass family name became strongly connected to the tavern.
How the Tavern Was Built
Construction of the building began around 1742. The first part was a small, square log building. It was about 15 feet (4.6 meters) on each side and one-and-a-half stories tall. About 15 years later, another two-story log building was built. This second part was about 10 feet (3 meters) to the west of the first one.
Eventually, these two separate buildings were connected. The first section was also made into a full two-story building. Around 1813, the last part was added. This addition was made of sandstone and ran along the entire northern side of the building. The tavern has two tall chimneys on each end, which is a unique design for the area. A long porch, called a veranda, stretches across the entire front of the building.
Life at the Tavern
We don't know the exact date Snodgrass Tavern officially opened. It likely became a tavern slowly over time, very early in its history. The main room for guests was quite large for taverns back then. It measured about 18 feet (5.5 meters) by 24 feet (7.3 meters).
The tavern was located about halfway between Martinsburg and what is now Berkeley Springs. Because of its location, people often called it the "Halfway House." The tavern stayed open until 1847. At that time, James Snodgrass, who owned it, decided he no longer wanted to sell liquor. This caused business to slow down a lot. He started renting out the building and eventually sold it. Since then, the building has been a private home.
Famous Visitors
Many important people visited Snodgrass Tavern over the years. George Washington stopped there several times. His first visit was in 1750 when he was surveying land for Lord Fairfax. He also wrote in his diary about another visit on September 5, 1784. Washington often stopped at Snodgrass Tavern when he was traveling to Berkeley Springs.
Another famous visitor was Henry Clay. He was a well-known politician and served as the United States Secretary of State. Henry Clay visited Snodgrass Tavern in July 1827 while seeing friends in the area.
Protecting History
Snodgrass Tavern was first added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 24, 1973. Later, on March 22, 2006, the protected area around the tavern was made much larger. It grew from a small area of 0.27 acres (just the tavern) to 205 acres. This expansion was done to include other important historical spots on the property. These include a cemetery and other old buildings. Snodgrass Tavern is truly one of the oldest buildings still standing in West Virginia.
Images for kids
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Snodgrass Tavern, a historic building in West Virginia.
