Forgotten Taverns

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John Adams

John Adams chronicled his travels around the Boston area leading up to the Revolution. His attitude toward drinking and tavern life evolved over time. Ultimately, he found the tavern a place to understand the local attitudes of the patrons in the lead-up to the Revolution.

Colonial Christmas drinks

Colonial Christmas drinks

Puritans and the 1600’s The Puritans held the belief that birthday celebrations, even for Jesus Christ, were not appropriate. According to a law passed in the Massachusetts Bay Colony from 1659 to 1681, “whosoever shall be found observing any such day as Christmas or the like, either by forbearing

The Growth of Whiskey and Temperance

The Growth of Whiskey and Temperance

A man who has had too much to drink is in “folly… a calf—in stupidity, an ass – in roaring, a mad bull – in quarrelling and fighting, a dog – in cruelty, a tiger – fetor, a skunk – in filthiness, a hog – in an obscenity, a he -goat", said Dr. Benjamin

Nurseries of Idleness

Nurseries of Idleness

“It is notorious, the Number of Taverns, Ale-houses, and Dram-shops, have encreased beyond all Measure or Necessity. They that are placed so near each other, that they ruin one another: and Two Thirds of them are not merely useless, but are become a Pest to Society.” … Many Bills have been