Lewis Thomson Cosby’s entry about The Washington House and the venerable Tavern next door is succinct: “…known far and near as ‘The Washington House’, kept by John C. Cummings, Esq…. [t]his ‘Tavern,’ as they were then called, was liberally patronized by the public.
“Next is a small frame house still standing used as a shop for various purposes…, and during the War Between the States the Post Office was kept there by George Sandoe.
“Adjoining this office was the Thaddeus Harris building, still standing… . Harris was a worthy colored man and kept his shop in one end and resided in the other. His widow lived there and was much respected by everyone.” (Cosby, “Remembrances,” p. 14-15)
These brief sentences leave volumes unsaid about the contribution to Abingdon society on the part of the Black poulation in the years leading up to the ‘War Between the States,’ and about how diverse and far-ranging the attractions proved to be in this relatively small but cosmopolitan community.
“The 1820 federal census enumerated nearly 2,000 slaves in Washington County. Out of a total population of 12,000, 15% of the population was black. Further, the census revealed that 155 who were labled ‘Free Persons of Color’ resided in the County. While this group may have represented a small percentage of the total population, their presence and activity in the area certainly was not ‘negligible.’ ” (Puglisi, “The Forgotten Population,” p. 18)
“In the early years, even along major roads throughout the colonies, there were not enough taverns. Private individuals often took travelers into their homes and provided some sort of meal and lodging… .
“Sharing rooms and even beds was common; anyone who objected was considered overly fastidious. When staying at family homes along the road, travelers such as Louis Phillipe [Duke of Orleans and later King of France] were often distressed to find the men and women lying together in pallets on the floor, together with their guests. It must have been a relief to reach a town like Abingdon, where standards were perhaps a little better due to competition among places of lodging. Due to its location and the volume of travelers heading west, Abingdon was able to support quite a few taverns during its early years.” (King, “Early Abingdon Taverns,” p. 11-13)
“The Tavern was used exclusively as a tavern for a period of 80 years. During this time, parts of it were leased out for other purposes. The side wing was used for the ‘first Post Office on the waters that flow to the Gulf ‘; other parts of the first floor were variously used as a bank, a bakery, a cabinet shop, a resturant, and a barber shop.” (Stevenson, et al, “Historical Houses…”, p. 20)
“By 1816, the first Abingdon Swedenborgian church was organized with a meeting of seven members, making Abingdon one of 17 communities in the U.S. with a Swedenborgian congregation. As most Churches of the New Jerusalem were located in heavily populated towns and cities, this congregation proved Abingdon’s cosmopolitan nature at such an early stage after its founding.” (Jackson, “A History of the Abingdon Society of the Church of the New Jerusalem,” p. 3)
“Louise LeChartier first appeared in Abingdon in the spring of 1799. For four years…she lived and kept a store in the location presently occupied by the Campbell Funeral Home, known in the Daniel Craig plan as Lot number 22.
“Her merchandise ranged from almost A to Z–for she listed for sale everything from aphrodisiacs to yarn, only lacking the 26th letter to make the gamut complete.” (Aronhime, “French Woman Left Mark on Abingdon,” p. 33-34)
Photo Credit: Mike Pulice, DHR (2023)
- ” Remembrances of Abingdon,” Lewis Thompson Cosby. HSWCVa, Series II, No. 9 (1971)
- “The Forgotten Population: The Free Black Community in Washington County, 1800-1850,” Michael J. Puglisi. HSWCVa, Series II, No. 38 (2001)
- “Early Abingdon Taverns, Inns, Ordinaries and House of Entertainment,” Nanci King. HSWCVa, Series II, No. 38 (2001) * see Note below
- “Historical Houses of Washington County, Virginia,” ed. George J. Stevenson. HSWCVa, Series II, No. 6 (Spring, 1968)
- “A History of the Abingdon Society of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian), Garrett Jackson. HSWCVa. Series II, No, 49 (2012)
- “French Woman Left Mark on Abingdon,” Gordon Aronhime. Bristol Herald-Courier, Oct. 8, 1964. Reprinted as: “A Posh Lot on Lot 22.” HSWCVa, Series II, No. 41 (2004)
Note: *In the article cited above Nanci King offers the following clarification: “Although in England there was a distinction between these types of establishments, in colonial America the terms came to be used interchangeably.” (p. 10). Just to be clear, while there were any number of taverns in early Abingdon, “The Tavern” on East Main Street is still operating, and in a class all by itself. Interestingly, two “Posh Shops” can be found in present-day Abingdon on the ground floor of the refurbished Washington House building next door to The Tavern and just steps away from the location of Mlle. LeChartier’s botique: Katbird’s Wine and Gourmet and Siegner’s Ltd.