Forgotten Taverns

Sign in Subscribe

Massachusetts

Rum and the Revolution

Rum and the Revolution

When I began delving into the history of the Molasses and Sugar Acts of the 1700s through the lens of taverns, I gained a newfound appreciation for the significance of molasses and rum in the events leading up to the Revolution. It's intriguing how our education primarily focused

Ready to try 17th Century Drinks

Ready to try 17th Century Drinks

By 1679, a mere six years later, nearly half of the taverns added rum to their offerings, alongside beer, wine, and cider. Rum had firmly established its presence. As the late 1600s transitioned into the early 1700s, rum and rum-based mixed drinks surpassed all others in popularity. While home farmers

The end of the 17th century and an era

The end of the 17th century and an era

The end of the Horseshoe Tavern For more than 12 years, the Horseshoe had proudly held its official license, a legacy that transitioned when William passed away in 1698 at the age of 61. At the time of his passing, William was held in high regard within the community, holding

17th Century Drunks

17th Century Drunks

Is everyone drunk in the 17th century? In 1658, Mr. Sergeant John Steven found himself facing charges of intoxication and was summoned to court. His servant, Lovejoy, testified against him, stating that he had observed Mr. Steven “reele [really] coming to me”. Lovejoy further explained that Stevens was so intoxicated

Smallpox and the Salem Witch Trials come to the Horseshoe Tavern

Smallpox and the Salem Witch Trials come to the Horseshoe Tavern

When we left William Chandler and the Horseshoe Tavern in 1689, he had just renewed the license for his tavern and found himself at the center of the first murder in town, unknowingly serving the murderer, which led to the re-establishment of the town curfew. Unfortunately, things did not improve

17th C Rum, Trade, and Infrastructure

17th C Rum, Trade, and Infrastructure

It's truly fascinating to think about the extent of international trade that occurred during the 17th century, even in a town like Andover. This frontier town rapidly emerged as a thriving hub of trade with the West Indies. However, along with this trade and growth, there was an

Part 2 - The Horseshoe is in Trouble

Part 2 - The Horseshoe is in Trouble

In this episode, we'll explore the years of turbulence before and after the licensing of the Horseshoe in 1686. Alcoholism, ethnic biases, tensions over land distribution policy, the King Philip's War, and Andover's first murder led to divisions among the population. At the center