Page 5 - Taverns Stands in Woodstock - for Flipbook_Neat

It is believed that a Mr. Swift owned the tavern in 1813. Bennett Palmer rented the hotel from him for four
years. This might have started around 1813. In 1815 Gilbert & Wood shingled the tavern. “This shingling of
the house must have been an agreeable occupation to the workmen, for they contrived to spend twenty seven
days about it at ten shillings a day. There is a fine lookout from the top of the Eagle Hotel, and as little rills of
drink played freely in various directions, and the pay was sure because Mr. Swift was as good as the Bank, it
could scarcely be asked of human nature not to linger a little round this delicious morsel.” Another major ex-
pense at the time was the building of 56 ½ rods of stone wall at a cost of $101 23. A great deal of fencing was
done from 1813 to 1817.

The tavern on the south side of the common (now the Green) had several alterations and owners over the years
starting with the addition of shingles in 1817 before a visit by President James Monroe. The Troop met the Presi-
dent on July 28, 1817, in Hartland, and escorted him to Woodstock. “At ten o’clock in the forenoon the Presi-
dent entered the village, on horseback, and as soon as he reached the lines of citizens formed on each side of
the street, he alighted, and with interchange of greetings from all sides, passed up the procession to Mr. Pratt’s
inn, where he was welcomed by Mr. Marsh and Mr. Swan, of the committee of arrangements. An address was
then presented by Mr. Hutchinson, followed by a brief and appropriate answer from the President. Then, in the
midst of the firing of cannon and the hearty cheers of the assembled multitude, the President took his swift de-
parture northward, passing through Royalton and Montpelier, and reaching Burlington the following night.”

Isaiah Carpenter, a printer by trade and the publisher of Woodstock’s first newspaper (the Northern Momento,
1805), purchased the “Tavern Stand” in the later part of 1819 from John Pratt. An advertisement for the tav-
ern appeared in the Woodstock Observer on January 17, 1820 and stated, “He flatters himself that none who may
call, will leave him dissatisfied.” Unfortunately, Carpenter only had the tavern for two years, “In consequence
of liabilities contracted for friends whom he endeavored to relieve from pecuniary difficulties, Mr. Carpenter
became embarrassed and lost his property.” A major improvement on the original hotel occurred in 1822
when Titus Hutchinson put up the brick wing for a dining room and hall. Lyman Mower oversaw building the
wing, and Nathan Cushing drew the lumber and the brick. Cushing assisted in laying the foundation. On May
10, 1823, John Pratt “informed his friends and the public that he had returned to his old stand on the Green
opposite the Court house and was ready to receive all paying Customers with open arms.” Pratt kept the tavern
for one year and was succeeded by Horace King, who in 1825 made room for Colonel Cutting. “The Colonel
kept an excellent hotel and had his full share of custom.”

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