Yancey's Tavern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Yancey's Tavern
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| Location | E of Kingsport on TN 126 |
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| Nearest city | Kingsport, Tennessee |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001850 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1973 |
Yancey's Tavern is a really old building in Sullivan County, Tennessee. It sits on Island Road, which was the very first wagon road in the state, built way back in 1761. This important building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, recognizing its special place in history.
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A Look Back in Time
The story of Yancey's Tavern began in 1779. A man named James Hollis, Sr. built the house. It was an important spot right from the start. The leaders of Sullivan County, called the County Commissioners, held their second meeting there. They kept meeting at this house and others until 1792. That's when land was given for the official county seat in Blountville.
In 1784, a man named John Yancey bought the Hollis house. He already owned a tavern in Abingdon, Virginia. John Yancey turned the house into Yancey's Tavern. It was a busy place and stayed open for many years, even into the 1800s.
A Busy Stop for Travelers
By the 1840s, the building belonged to John Shaver. He renamed it Shaver's Inn. It became a regular stop for stagecoaches traveling from Abingdon. Its location was perfect, right between Old Deery Inn in Blountville and Netherland Inn in Kingsport.
Shaver's Inn was about ten miles (16 kilometers) from both other inns. This was super convenient! Horses usually needed to be changed after ten miles of travel. Drivers would switch out after about twenty miles (32 kilometers). From 1842 to 1866, the building also held the Eden's Ridge post office.
Changes Over the Years
In 1889, John Spahr bought the house and a large piece of land (about 230 acres or 0.93 square kilometers) from the Shaver family. The big barn you see today was built in 1903. The Spahr family continued to farm the land until the early 1950s. That's when East Lawn Cemetery was started. Most of the old farm land is now part of the cemetery.
The last person to live in the house was John Spahr's daughter, Mary. After she passed away in 1962, the house was empty for 42 years. Not much was done to keep the house in good shape during Mary Spahr's time or when her nieces owned it.
In 2004, the house was sold at an auction. A person named Rann Vaulx bought the house and worked hard to fix it up. The barn was bought and repaired by G. A. Agett. Then, in 2006, Vaulx bought the barn from Agett, bringing the whole property back together.
What the Building Looks Like
When the Shaver family owned the tavern, they made some changes. They covered the original rough-cut logs with smooth poplar wood siding. But if you look closely, you can still see the old, hand-cut roof beams.
Inside, the walls were also changed. The upstairs east room got poplar wood panelling. Downstairs, the walls were made with thin wood strips called laths and plaster. The fancy fireplace mantels probably also date from this time. Luckily, the original wooden doors with their cool wrought iron strap hinges are still there! Later, when John Spahr bought the house, he added a dining room. This connected the kitchen, which used to be separate, to the rest of the house.
The barn is also very old. Its strong wooden beams stand on a stone foundation. These beams have Roman numerals carved into them and are held together with wooden pegs. It looks like the barn's wood might have come from an even older barn!
Yancey's Tavern Today
Yancey's Tavern was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
From 2004 to 2006, Rann Vaulx carefully brought the site back to life. He wanted to share its history with everyone in Sullivan County and Tennessee. The house is now filled with furniture that looks like what people would have used in the late 1700s. You can also see a cupboard, a blanket chest, and a dining room table from the early 1800s. There's even a special book, called a ledger, that John Spahr kept. It shows all the materials and costs for building the barn, and it's on display today.
During the restoration, a small piece of a quilt was found hidden behind a wall. People think it was made by John Spahr's wife or his daughter Mary. This quilt piece has been framed and is now on display. A large painted quilt square, called "Grandmother's Flower Garden," was inspired by this tiny fragment. It hangs proudly on the side of the barn.
Today, you can visit Yancey's Tavern by making an appointment. It's also available for groups like church groups or groups interested in historic preservation, patriotism, or genealogy.
On April 26, 2014, the Northeast Tennessee Mustang Club stopped at the tavern. They were on their "Island Road Run" cruise to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Ford Mustang car. Twenty-one cars were there and parked in front of the tavern.
