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Page 63
EARLY TAVERNS
CHAPTER XIV
ONE TRAVELING now thinks that the road houses are very
numerous. However, the old "tavern" was more numerous in proportion
to the population than the present road house. In Brady Township the
first tavern was at the Jefferson County line, and called "Jefferson
Line", two miles east of the Jefferson line, at the location of Mr.
C. H. Goodlander's home. Here was a tavern that had been opened as
early as 1835. Luthersburg had two taverns. Two miles farther east,
over the hills toward Curwensville, Isaac Draucker had a tavern
where P. W. Draucker now lives. Two miles beyond this was what was
known as the "Forest House." Beyond the Brady Township line, and
beyond the Forest House was what was known as the "Bloom Stand," and
then one could not get any refreshments until he reached the "Wild
Goose," two miles east of that. From there to Curwensville was five
miles, and how the traveler could get over that distance without
refreshments was not explained. Curwensville, of course, had three
or four taverns.
An advertisement of these early taverns may be
interesting:—
"FLEMING HOTEL, (Formerly known as the Good Intent)
Curwensville, Clearfield County, Pa.—The subscriber begs leave to
inform his old customers and the public generally that he has
recently taken the above well known stand, and that he has entirely
refitted and refurnished it in a style adapted to the age, and the
wants of the entire traveling community. HIS TABLE will always be
provided with every luxury the markets and surrounding country will
afford. HIS BAR will be supplied with the choicest wines and
liquors. HIS STABLES, which are the best and most commodious on the
road within a day's travel, will always be in charge of careful and
attentive hostlers. In short, every department of his establishment
will be supplied with all the comforts and conveniences the weary
traveler could desire.
Curwensville, June 2, 1858. Wm. A. MASON"
(From Raftman's Journal, 1860. This ad had not been changed in two
years.)
Of course these houses were all licensed by the Court
of Quarter Sessions. There were five taverns within the limits of
Brady Township in 1860, and the population at that time was 1,687,
or one tavern for 337 plus inhabitants.
One must not conclude that the number of taverns had
anything to do with the consumption of liquor. Of course there was
no beer at that date, there being no brewery nearer than Pittsburgh.
However, the drunkard was called a "toper" and was
looked
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