The Haunted Commonwealth

In our previous two blog entry's, I've focused on two of Abingdon's most well known establishments within their historical district.  For this third entry, we will focus on what is known as the oldest building still used for business west of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The Tavern Restaurant is a great place to spend a Friday or Saturday night with the family, enjoy some wine, and eat some great food.  The history of the building is intriguing as well as the tavern served as a hospital during Civil War times and has seen its share of tragedy.  The Tavern's official website (linked at the bottom) breaks down this lovely buildings history.

The Tavern, the oldest of Abingdon's historic buildings and one of the oldest west of the Blue Ridge, was built in 1779. It was used from it's beginning as a tavern and overnight inn for stagecoach traveler's. The Tavern has had such guests as Henry Clay; Louis Philippe, King of France; President Andrew Jackson; and Pierre Charles L'Enfant, designer of Washington D.C.

The first post office on the western slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains was located in the east wing of The Tavern. The original mail slot is still in place and can be seen today from the street.

During the past two centuries, The Tavern has served as a tavern, bank, bakery, general store, cabinet shop, barber shop, private residence, post office, antique shop and restaurant. It even served as a hospital for wounded Confederate and Union soldiers during the Civil War.

In 1965, The Tavern was acquired from the Thaddeus Harris Family by Mary Dudley Porterfield, wife of the founder of the Barter Theatre. The Harris Family had owned The Tavern for more than 100 years.

In 1984, The Tavern was restored to its former glory by a local attorney Emmit F. Yeary.

In 1994, it was opened under the management of Max Hermann who moved to Abingdon in 1993 after having served twenty years with the United States Air Force. Max is a native German and lives in Abingdon with his wife Kelly.

 Of course a place of this stature would not be complete without a few ghost tales.  "We Be Haints," which is a website dedicated to the history of this lovely town discusses the hauntings that can be found at The Tavern.

Down the street from the Cave House is the oldest, and according to Emmert, the most haunted building in Abingdon. The Tavern dates from 1779 and Emmert says that it's packed from the rafters to the cellar with ghosts. In Emmert's words, The Tavern is "corrupt" with ghosts. Foremost among the resident ghosts is "The Tavern Tart," a young prostitute murdered at The Tavern by a client. Emmert says the Tart still has an eye for men and loves to, ahem, pinch or grab a man's backside. She'll also watch out the window and stare at men as they cross the street. But she's a vindictive, jealous spirit and there are certain women she doesn't like. (Sorry ladies: you'll have to take the tour to find out if you qualify.) And there are many other ghosts at The Tavern. Emmert recommends a visit to The Tavern for a good meal and a nice chat with the wait staff about their own encounters.

If you're looking for ghosts, this would be a good place to start.  The Tavern seems to have some type of paranormal activity, especially since the ghost seems to be possessive of something or someone with in the building. Sounds of footsteps can be heard and are mostly reported by the staff after closing time.  Objects have been moved, tables have been moved during the night and certain mumblings sounds can be heard when the restaurant is empty.  Like I said, if you're looking for ghosts, this is the place for you.


Links

Official Website:http://www.abingdontavern.com/
Article from Google Docs: Ower of the Tavern Interview
Video Evidence from an Investigation at the Tavern: Haunt Master Club
We Be Haints Article: http://www.webehaints.com/reviews.html
20 Page Haunt Master Club Investigation Report: http://www.hauntmastersclub.com/OurHunts.html#anchor_227

Need a place to stay just outside the Tennessee-Virginia line, then the Martha Washington Inn is the place for you.  The hotel has a rigid history or murder, warfare, and heartbreak that leads it to be one of the more interesting hotels in the commonwealth today.  The official site for the Inn goes into detail about the history of this establishment.

The Martha Washington Inn began life as an illustrious home indeed! It was built in 1832 as a private residence for General Francis Preston and Sarah Buchanan Preston and their nine children. In 1858 the Preston family home was purchased for the incredible sum of $21,000 dollars in order for the mansion to become an upscale college for young women.

The “War Between the States” was soon to have a dramatic effect on the college. Schoolgirls became nurses and the beautiful grounds became training barracks for the Washington Mounted Rifles. Union and Confederate troops were involved in frequent skirmishes in and around the town with the college serving as a makeshift hospital for the wounded, both Confederate and Yankee. Despite the devastating effects of the Civil War, the Martha Washington College survived. However, the Great Depression, typhoid fever and a declining enrollment eventually took its toll. The Martha was closed in 1932, standing idle for several years.

In 1935, The Martha Washington Inn opened as a hotel and throughout the years has hosted many illustrious guests. Eleanor Roosevelt, President Harry Truman, Lady Bird Johnson, Jimmy Carter, and Elizabeth Taylor are counted among the many famous guests who have frequented the hotel. Fortunately, much of the inn’s historic charm, antiques and architectural detail were preserved, even though its future was at times uncertain.

In 1984, The United Company, representing a group of dedicated businessmen, purchased The Martha Washington Inn and began an eight million dollar renovation. Aware of this historic landmark’s importance to the town of Abingdon, the restoration was carefully designed to preserve and enhance much of its original splendor and architectural detail.

In 1995, The Martha Washington Inn joined The Camberley Collection of fine historic properties. Sensitive to their role as stewards of a long and enduring legacy, Camberley maintains the inn’s strong ties with the Barter Theatre and the community of Abingdon. Today The Martha Washington Inn stands as gateway to the past, providing those modern amenities expected by today’s traveler amid the genteel elegance of period antiques and furnishings.

Most of the hotel's paranormal vitality stems from the old Cival War days when the building existed as a girls nursing college.  There is an alleged headless horse that gallops outside on moonless nights, looking for its fallen rider.  There is a legend of bloodstains that could never been washed away, even when the carpet was replaced.  People have seen apparitions of Confederate soldiers on the hotel's grounds. 

However, the most intriguing story involves room 403.  A college student named Beth who attended the college was ordered to help out a cival war soldier named John Stoves, who had been shot multiple times.  Stoves found out that Beth could play the violin and asked if she could play for him to help lessen his intense pain.  As John moved closer to death, Beth began to fall in love with the soldier.  Within a few days the soldier died from his shrapnel wounds.  Heartbroken, she too soon died of what is presumed to be typhoid fever although some said she died of a broken heart. This is why on some nights, strange violin music can be heard by guests who are staying around room 403.

Address

The Barter Theatre building was constructed in 1831 as a new location for Sinking Springs Presbyterian Church.  The earliest theatrical event known to occur here was a production of the Virginian on January 14, 1876, the proceeds of which were used for building repairs. In 1890, the Sons of Temperance transferred the building's title to the Town of Abingdon , to be used as a town hall for the benefit of the citizenry.

In addition to offices, the town used the building as a fire hall – hence the fire alarm on the roof that sounded as needed at any time, day or night. When the fire siren sounded during a Barter performance, the actors were instructed to freeze their position on stage and to resume the action when the alarm concluded. The alarm remained on the building until 1994 when the fire department went to a system of electronic communications to alert fire fighters.

Many of the interior furnishings in the theatre are from the Empire Theatre of New York City. Robert Porterfield learned that this New York City theatre, constructed in 1875, was slated for destruction. Porterfield had one weekend in which to carry away furnishings and equipment for use at Barter. He came away with $75,000 worth of seats, lighting fixtures, carpeting, paintings, and tapestries. The lighting system at the Empire, designed and installed by Thomas Edison, was used at Barter Theatre through the mid 1970's.

The Barter Theatre, which is home to two spirits. One is said to be the founder, Robert Porterfield, who brought unemployed actors from New York to start the theater during the Great Depression. Although Porterfield died in 1971, actors have claimed to see him in the audience. Another spirit, alleged to be malevolent, has been said to chase actors from dressing rooms.


Supposedly, there was a ghost of a confederate war soldier haunting the premises. According to legend, if he showed you his wound, then you would be dead within 48 hours!