Ye Olde Tavern, Vermont
Ye Olde Tavern is a restaurant in Manchester Center, Vermont, US, that is listed on the Vermont Register of Historic Places.[1] It was built by Aaron Sheldon from Dorset, Vermont, in 1790, making it the oldest inn in the state of Vermont.[2][3] It was also one of the first buildings in Manchester to house telephone lines, and was once "the headquarters for the movement to license the sale of 'spirituous beverages'."[2] It began as a tavern in 1790 called The Stagecoach Inn,[1] before becoming Lockwood's Hotel circa 1850.[2] In 1860, the building was renamed Thayer's Hotel by the new owner, Steven Thayer.[1] It became the Fairview Hotel in 1902 and, in 1934, it was a hotel and antique shop run by the new owner Walter Clemons.[1] In 1975, it was renamed Ye Olde Tavern by Peter and Susan Palmer, who renovated the place in time for the 1976 United States Bicentennial.[1]
Mark and Diedre Radicioni became the proprietors of Ye Olde Tavern around 1993. They took it over after losing their Grabbers Restaurant in Manchester to a fire.[1] During their time as proprietors, Ye Olde Tavern was named the 1996 Restaurant of the Year by the National Restaurant Academy in the "Most Outstanding Value" category.[1]
Michael and Minna Brandt have been the proprietors of Ye Olde Tavern since November 2001.[2][4] The restaurant has a colonial setting and Michael Brandt commented, "When people step into the Ye Olde Tavern, it's like stepping back in time. The experience whisks you away to a bygone era."[2] The tavern currently has seven dining rooms, two of which are upstairs, with ninety seats and a full bar.[2]
In 2012, Ye Olde Tavern was recognized as a "Green Restaurant" by the State of Vermont.[5]
The Tavern's slogan is "Wining & Dining since 1790".
Gallery
- Ye Olde Tavern view from the barn
- Fireplace in the Taproom with Moses Eaton stencil
- Tavern then named "The Old Tavern" being painted, circa 1940
- Side view of the Tavern, then named "Fairview Inn" circa 1930s
- Tavern, then named "Thayer's Hotel," circa 1900
- c. 1790 Hearth Fireplace, still works to this day
- Originally where the Front Desk was is now a dining room.
- Walter Clemons was the proprietor of Ye Olde Tavern c. 1930s – 1974.
References
- "Ye Old Tavern On Main Street In Manchester Center". The Times Union. September 25, 1996. pp. T7.
- Hoffenberg, Noah (November 21, 2001). "State's oldest tavern has new owners ownership Up at Breakfast owners take over 211-year-old of ". Bennington Banner.
- McArdle, Patrick (April 21, 2006). "History museum to close". Bennington Banner.
- Rheaume, Patrick (August 11, 2005). "Manchester takes resignations in stride". Bennington Banner.
- vermont.gov
- Living History in Vermont by Architectural Digest magazine
- Hoffenberg, Noah, "State's oldest tavern has new owners. Up at Breakfast owners take over 211-year-old tavern., Bennington Banner (VT), November 21, 2001.
- Wittemann, Betsy, and Webster, Nancy, Weekending in New England. (1993) page 266.
- Blumenthal, Ralph, Weekend excursions; to schuss, to shop., The New York Times, January 21, 2000. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
- Foulds, Diane, "Colonial comfort.", The Boston Globe, February 3, 2003. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
- "New England's early inns recall life in the colonies," The Chicago Tribune, March 13, 1966, mentions the Thayer Hotel.
- "The quality of Manchester.", Historicalpages.com. Retrieved August 19, 2009
- The American Local History Network
- Historic Inns and Taverns of New England
- See New England
- A Vermont Green Business since 2012.
- Best Steakhouses in each State
- Oldest Bar in Vermont.
- Recognition by the Manchester Business Journal