Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-08-05
FAMOUS OLD HosrELRY.
Robinson House, the .sJed Prouty
Tavern, at BuckspOrt.

ROBINSON House, the ssJed PrOuty
Tavern, at BuckspOrt.
With the recent change in the manage
ment OF the old Robinson house at Bucks
port, the house comes into prominence
again, and there is no other in all the
State which is more widely known. 1t
stands almost in the same condition and
state as it did long years ago, one of the
famous old-time houses, well known as the
"Old Jed Prouty Tavern, where the
scene OF that play. "Old Jed Prouty," was
laid, and which was made known on the
stage of the continent by the veteran
actor, Richard Golden.
This famous old hosiery was built in
1904 by Asa Peabody, who was we'll
known in Lucksport in those days, and
while its early days are somewhat in
obscurity, it has withstood the storms and
changes of time, and to- day is much in the
same condition as then.
In the year 1920 the house was purchased
by man named Sparhawk, who made
some changes in the original style, chang
ing the fiat roof to one of modern style
and giving more room in the chambers.
Landlord Sparhawk managed the house
for six years, when he sold out to Colonel
Lake, who became the manager, and con-
tinued until 1882, when he sold to the
former manager, Mr.. Sparhawk.
Mr.. Sparhawk was in failing health, and
the house was considered Large tavern
in those days, and he soon sold to party
named Samuel Gilpatrick, who failed to
make the house success, and it was soon
after sold, various parties occupying it,
until it finally fell into the hands of David
Bnck, Of the family for which Bucksport
| was named.
Mr.. Buck proved a good landlord, and
continued to conduct the house until well
into the 'fifties, when he sold out his in
terest to Daniel Robinson, then conduct
ing the stable in the rear of the house,
who on purchasing the house remodelled
it and added another story. He made an
extension to the house on Main street and
changed the name from that Of the Maine
house to the Robinson house. Previous to
his management James Patterson was for
some years manager of the house.
In February, 1860, there came to Bucks
port one James M. Moses, of Skowhegan,
! who assumed proprietorship of the famous
tavern. Landlord Moses was a man of
marked individuality, and he entertained
both man and beast with a courtly grace
and dignity rarely equalled. No one who
ever sojourned at the Robinson house dur
ing the tkirty-seven years Mr.. Moses re-
manned there will fail to remember the
unique appearance of the host in his swal-
low-tail coat and brass buttons. On Feb
ruary "a, 1898, Landlord Moses passed
away at the age OF seventyfo four years, and
he was succeeded i'll the Management of
the house by bright and capable young
man, Pearl II. Wardwell, who had long
been with Mr.. Moses. For four years Mr.
/ Wardwell conducted the house for Mrs.
Moses, and then took charge under mis-
own management. He has recently re-
tired from the management of the house
after some thirty years association, first
as bell-boy, then clerk and lastly man
ager.
Much of the furniture in the house
remains the same as many years ago, the
chairs in the Office being the same as were
| H.,
while their bottoms are whitfield and
hacked by the knives of the visitors and
loungers in the Gays of long ago. The
dining-room service is similar to those old
days, the food being served in family style.
Directly in front of the house is fountain
erected and presented to the town some
fifteen years ago by Isaac B. Rich, the we'll
known theatrical man, native of North
Bucksport, who died recently
The house has been the mecca of many
tourist parties who like the quietness Of
the village and the ancient customs which
have prevailed in the house. Among the
old registers which are yet in the house
are recorded the names of many prominent
visitors to Maine.
The new manager of the house is Rufus
H. Googins, whose father, Frederick B.
Googins, has conducted the stable in the
rear of the house for forty-two years or
more, and who for many years drove one of
the oldfashioned stage lines between
| Bucksport and CIstine.