Andrews Tavern (Spotsylvania County, Virginia)

Andrews Tavern is an historic building located in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. The original building was constructed for Samuel Andrews in 1815. Around 1848, a frame wing was added to the brick structure for a tavern. Though the wing was added to the original residence, there is no interior connection between the two.^[1][3] The tavern is an example of Federal provincial architecture.^[4]

Andrews Tavern
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Virginia Landmarks Register
Andrews Tavern (Spotsylvania County, Virginia)
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Location	2.6 miles (4.2 km) northeast of Glenora on VA 601, near Glenora, Virginia
Coordinates	38°7′17″N 77°46′13″W
Area	95 acres (38 ha)
Built	1815
Architectural style	Federal
NRHP reference No.	76002121[1]
VLR No.	088-0136
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	July 30, 1976
Designated VLR	April 20, 1976[2]

In 1778, the county seat of Spotsylvania County was moved to Andrews Tavern area which was a central location in the county. The county seat remained at Andrews Tavern until it was moved to its present location at Spotsylvania Court House in 1839.^[5][6]

Since the construction of the building, it has served a number of purposes including United States Post Office (1842–1862) and, during the American Civil War, Confederate post office (1862–1865). During his ownership of the building, Samuel Andrews was postmaster for the governments of both the Confederate States of America and the United States.^[3] The building has also served as a school and a polling place.^[4] The location of the tavern, near the intersection of two major roads, made it a central social and political gathering place. Both the Whigs and the Democrats promoted their parties on election days in the 1840s with parades, banners, and free whiskey for voters.^[7]

In 1885, the building once again housed a post office. As of 1999, Andrews Tavern was a private residence.^[3]

The property has been designated as a Virginia Historic Landmark and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in July 1976.^[1]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
3. Loth, Calder (1999). The Virginia Landmarks Register (4th ed.). The Virginia Landmarks Register. p. 496. ISBN 9780813918624.
4. Hayden, Caroline R. (10 September 1992). "Andrews Tavern: Model Federal Architecture". The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Virginia). Retrieved 21 May 2012.
5. U.S. one: Maine to Florida. Federal Writers' Project. 1972. p. 197.
6. "Spotsylvania Courthouse Historic District". Tourism. Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
7. Mansfield, J. Roger (1945). Andrews Tavern history. J. Roger Mansfield.

Further reading

• Andrew's Tavern NRHP Nomination Form (1976)