The Old Pike: A History of the National Road, with Incidents, Accidents, and Anecdotes ThereonSearight, Thomas B. (Thomas Brownfield)
History
The Old Pike: A History of the National Road, with Incidents, Accidents, and Anecdotes Thereon
Searight, Thomas B. (Thomas Brownfield)
Cumberland Road; Pennsylvania -- Biography
Less than a mile west of Newbury, on the north side of the road, an old
building once used as a tavern, attracts special attention by reason of
the singular style of its architecture. It is a wooden structure,
commonly called a frame, with an unusually high portico in front,
supported by four round and tall wooden columns, tapering upward and
downward from the centers. It reminds one of the old pictures of the
temple of Juno, and possibly the designer had that ancient temple in
view when he planned this old tavern. He is said to have been a native
of the vicinity, not likely versed in the classic orders of
architecture, but the style he adopted in this instance might reasonably
be regarded as the Monogynous. Two immense stables appurtenant to this
old tavern, one log, the other frame, both still standing, weather
beaten, empty, and useless, bear silent, but impressive testimony to the
thrift of other days, and impart a tinge of melancholy to the memories
of the old pike. Daniel Show was the original owner of the quaint old
building above described, and its first occupant. He sold it to Samuel
Easter, who conducted it for a brief period, and was succeeded by Peter
Lenhart, mentioned hereinafter as "Shellbark." Samuel Thompson succeeded
Lenhart, and he in 1846 was succeeded by Mrs. Metzgar, who subsequently
became the wife of John Olwine.
[Illustration: THE ENDSLEY HOUSE.]
And now the hills that skirt the Youghiogheny river rise to view, and
Somerfield is reached, an ancient little town, which the old metal mile
posts on the road persist in calling Smithfield. That this town was once
called Smithfield there can be no doubt, and that it now is Somerfield
is equally clear. It was originally called Smithfield, because its
founder's name was Smith, but the postoffice department changed it to
Somerfield on account of the great multitude of Smiths and Smithfields
in all portions of the universe. Somerfield has been the scene of many a
lively incident of the old road. Here light feet, impelled by lighter
hearts, tripped to the notes of merry music, and the ringing laugh and
sprightly jokes of the old stage driver and wagoner, enlivened the now
dull halls of the old taverns. The most noted old tavern keeper of
Somerfield was Capt. Thomas Endsley. Somerfield was always a stage
station, the second relay east of Uniontown. The Endsley House was the
headquarters of Stockton's line. It is a stone building, and stands near
the bank of the river at the western end of the town, and was erected in
the year 1818 by Kinkead, Beck & Evans, the old bridge builders, and
occupied and conducted as a tavern by James Kinkead, the senior member
of the firm, from the date of its completion to the year 1822. John
Campbell was its next occupant, who kept it for a term of two years, and
until 1824. Capt. Endsley then took charge of it, and conducted it down
to the year 1829. John Shaffer kept it from 1829 to 1831, when Capt.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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