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Tavern, the oldest of Abingdon's historic buildings and
one of the oldest west of the Blue Ridge, was built in
1779. It was used from it's beginning as a tavern and
overnight inn for stagecoach traveler's. The Tavern has
had such guests as Henry Clay; Louis Philippe, King of
France; President Andrew Jackson; and Pierre Charles
L'Enfant, designer of Washington D.C.
The first post office on the
western slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains was located
in the east wing of The Tavern. The original mail slot
is still in place and can be seen today from the street.
During
the past two
centuries, The Tavern has served as a tavern, bank,
bakery, general store, cabinet shop, barber shop,
private residence, post office, antique shop and
restaurant. It even served as a hospital for wounded
Confederate and Union soldiers during the Civil War.
In
1965, The Tavern was acquired from the Thaddeus Harris
Family by Mary Dudley Porterfield, wife of the founder
of the Barter Theatre. The Harris Family had owned The
Tavern for more than 100 years.
In 1984, The Tavern was
restored to its former glory by a local attorney Emmitt
F. Yeary.
In 1994, it was opened under the management of
Max Hermann who moved to Abingdon in 1993 after having
served twenty years with the United States Air Force.
Max is a native German and resides in Abingdon.
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I hope to bring an
intercontinental touch to The Tavern, but at the same time
preserve its history. During your visit, you can see a
little of what I have collected in my extensive travels
around the globe.
My goal is to make The Tavern
a place where you can relax and enjoy fine food, be it
with your family or friends in our courtyard or hearth
areas. Please feel free to tell me how we are doing. You
are the customer.
The Tavern belongs to you.
Max
Hermann
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