Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-10-16

A REVOLUTIONARY TAVERN
1t Was $50 Years Old and Sheltered Wash
ington, Adams and Monroe.

It Was $50 Years Old and Sheltered Wash
ington, Adams and Monroe.
The old building on Court street
known as the Parsons tavern, which is
celebrated as the hostelry where George
Washington stopped at least once in
passing through Springfield, is now be-
ing torn down to make room for mod
ern tenement block. 1t was probably
the second Oldest building in town and
has been used for tenement house OF
late years.
The building was one of the taverns
of Revolutionary days and was about
$50 years old 1t stood when built on
the southeast corner of the present
Court square, just across from where
the Chicopee bank now is. 1t was u
large structure for those days, three
stories in front with short roof slop-
ing forward from the ridgcpole and q
long meandering roof sloping to the
rear and cutting the house off at the
second story just before the sheds and
els" began. By whom it was built is
not matter of record. The work was
honestly done, however. Great hand
hewn timbers formed the framework
and were joined by wooden pegs. Ev-
cry nail, hinge, brace or other bit of
ironwork was hand forged All the
woodwork that was meant to show was
huted, chiseled or nodded Even the
narrow clapboards had nodded edge
and were grooved. No paint ever touch
ed the sturdy sides or any part Of the
exterior of the old house to any extent,
and the shaggy, weather Worn appear
ance which resulted added much to the
attractiveness Of the building.
The present site of Court square was
always the center of attraction for the
town. There were the church, the court
house, the whipping post and most OF
the trading shops. Auctions were held
there, and on training day all congre-
gated near the old Parsons tavern,
where the young men would try wres-
Ting. Consequently the tavern was al
ways q rendezvous and place where
gossip dwelt III company with flip irons
and toddy.
1t appears that Zenas Parsons was
the first host, and from him the tavern
took its name. 1t was while he was
landlord that on Oct. 81, 1889, Wash
ington spent the night in the tavern
while on a visit to New England. The
great man slept in the second story
front room to the right as one climbed
the stairs. The record in his diary reads,
"Colonel Worthington, Colonel Will
liams, adjutant general of the state of
Massachusetts,; General Shepard, Mr..
Lyman, and many other gentlemen sat
an hour or two with me at Parsons
tavern, where l lodged, and which is a
good house" From which it would
seem that General Washington was
pleased with his entertainment.
Even before Washington came the
tavern had had distinguished tran
sient. When John Adams returned from
the sessions of congress in Philadelphia
in November, 1715, he dined with
Landlord Parsons and Captain Pyn.
chon Mr.. Bliss and Colonel Worthing-
ton visited him What other famous
guests Mr.. Parsons had is untold. He
died as the century went out, aud Flea
ger Williams, slow and dignified, Sue
ceeded him Later ON, when James
Monroe us president came to Spring
field, he was cared for by Landlord John
Bemett-Springfeld Republican.