The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-06-22
THE BROAD TAVERN.
Interesting Relics of "Ye olden Tyne.

Interesting Relics Of 'Ye Olden Tyne"
The old Broad Tavern, which was so familiar
to our grandfathers, as place of resort from
September 1877 until 1910, is now open to the
inspection of the curious. Yesterday after
noon Mr.. L. B. Chapman invited the repre-
sentatives of the PRESS and Argus to visit the
old time ;hostelry, which was reached after a
delightful half hours ride from the city; ride
that was enlivened by "reminiscences of ssthe
historical antecedents of Stroudwater
The Broad Tavern is located on the Reform
School road, some little distance from the
Brewer House. and is low, large, two storied
mansion surrounded by magnificent elms, over
century old. The party was met at the door
by Miss Ann Broad, "a lineal descendant of
Captain Silas Broadly Mrs. Quinby and Miss
Quinby, and Mrs. Pickett, who gave them a
hearty welcome. The house contains twelve
large, low studded, quantity fashioned rooms,
into whose open windows were waited the
summer breezes laden with the odors of the
honeysuckle, and through which stretched a
long vista of broad fields, with glimpse of
the sparkling river.
The various apartments were filled with
most inter esting mementoes of the past. In
the room ON the left of the hall, npon little
cid fashioned table, stood silver plate which
belonged to Moses Pearson in 1766, and two
old fashioned solid looking cut glass decanters.
Upon the window curtain were pinned pieces
of old brocade dresses once thu property of
Mrs. Benjamin Titcomb and Mrs. DIR. Deane,
hi a+ +I,a &c ~, IL
of our First Parish church. Perhaps the most
attractive feature to any one interested in
military affairs was the white silk banner pre-
sented by the ladies of Stroudwater to the
Stroudwater Light Infantry in 1905. The
banner bears on the reverse the coat of arms of
Massachusetts, with the motto "Sub ibeTtdte
quieteno ense petit placidan." Above is the
legend 'Death or an honorable life.' Below
"From the fair to the brave" On the diverse
is the eagle grasping in its talons javelins and
the olive branch, the same legends as the
reverse, and the inscription ''To the Stroud
water Light Infantry This company be-
longed to the LIST Regiment, I'd Brigade, 18th
Division Massachusetts, Militia, and was dis
banded August 81, 1915. The flag was pre-
sented to the company through Miss Emma
Quinby, daughter of Capt. John Quinby.
Daniel Broad was at one time ensign.
On the mantel was a fine old silver tankard
belonging originally to William and Anna.
Titcomb of Newburyport. TDere was also
correct portrait Of Washington presented to
Capt. Robert Means of Stroudwater by the
general at the disbandment of the Revou-
tionary army. 1t was one of number Wash
ington had struck off at that time and is rather
thinner in profile than the accepted portraits
OF the "Father of his Country" probably
owing to the fatigues and worries of the cam
paign.
In the room on the right of the hall was the
bill of fare of a dinner served the old Portland
Rifle Corps, June u, 1888, their ODD anniver-
sary. Turtle soup, paddock chowder, and all
the usual meats and ''fxings," together with
Marcobrunner, "Volnay" Burgundy, "Joli"
champagne, Old Madeira and Port and Curacao
wines that were wines in those days, and
which, even in these times, would have made
some OF the modern prohibitionists' mout hs
water
The dining room ran the whole width of the
house, lighted by two long windows, one of
which gives an enchanting landscape view
and the other looks into kitchen garden now
brilliant with the bloom and laden with the
odors of old-fashioned flowers. Here was a
grand old sofa once the property of Chief JUS
tice Mellen, quint, curiously carved writing
desk, an old-fashioned portable silver ink
stand with two long wax candles in sconces
on the back, and provided with inkstand, sand
bottle and little silver bell with which to
call the waiter. The glass and china-ware was
enough to turn the head of the lover of bric-a-
brac; most oddly devised and quantity
shaped dishes and glassware in abundance.
There was a splendid old "calico'' teapot,
great broad glasses for celery, pitchers made
in Liverpool with ships painted ON them and
the initials T. B., funny book glasses almost
orange shaped. and more other articles than
page of this journal could describe.
-Over-tho- daap- fra place in this kitchen
above the shining andirons, were the cranes
and kettles, and close at hand the tin roasters,
toasting forks, apple roasters, &c. Two ladies
spun flax into long rolls from the spinning
wheels, and carded it. A long strip of yellow
cloth bore the inscription ''W elcome to Presi-
dent jackson. The Union, it must be pre-
erved.'
Here let the rising age with rapture gaze
And emulate the glorious deeds they praise
This was printed at time when the great
jackson was expected to visit Portland, but,
like the Great Eastern, he never fulfilled ex-
pectations.
The great elm outside the door used to be
surrounded by picket fence with rings to
which visitors would fasten their steeds Then
they mounted into the branches of the mon
arch, and while they smoked great basket
with glasses set in its periphery, and decan-
ter of oldiFrench brandy in the centre, would
be passed up to them for refreshments The
old out-buildings covered with moss, still re-
main.
We hope our citizens will visit this splendid
monument of the olden time this week, and by
the payment of a small fee, not only interest
themselves but also add to the treasury of one
of our worthiest charitable societies.