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
on the north side of the street, with a spacious porch in front. James
Workman, the old proprietor, will be remembered as a gentleman of ruddy
complexion, gray hair, slim, but erect stature, elastic step and curt
speech. He presided at this house for many years, and had a wide
reputation for serving good meals. This old house was built by John
McClure Hezlop in 1797, who first kept it as a tavern. James Beckley
afterwards kept it, and after his decease, it was continued as a tavern
by his widow. James Workman took charge of it in 1843. After Workman,
and since the decline of travel on the road, it has been kept at
different times by William Garrett, Aaron Wyatt, William Wyatt, Jacob
Marks, John G. Fear, and probably others. It is continued as a tavern,
and kept at the present time by Fred Chalfant.
The late George E. Hogg, for many years a leading and wealthy citizen of
Brownsville, is authority for the following amusing story concerning
James Workman, the old tavern keeper, and General Jackson. On an
occasion of one of General Jackson's frequent trips over the National
Road, the citizens of Brownsville resolved to give him a public
reception. All the usual arrangements for such an event were made,
including a dinner at Workman's tavern. The hero, upon reaching town,
was taken to the Presbyterian church to listen to a reception speech and
receive the greetings of the people. Soon after the audience had settled
down Mr. Workman entered the building, and forcing himself down the main
aisle, and to a front pew occupied by General Jackson, accosted him
thus: "General Jackson, I have been commissioned by the committee of
arrangements to provide your dinner, and have come to inquire if there
is any particular article of diet you prefer above another, that I may
have the pleasure of gratifying your taste." The old General gravely
responded, "Ham and eggs." This seemed rather confusing to the old
landlord, who, supposing the General was joking, repeated his inquiry,
when the same response came a second time and in an emphatic tone, "Ham
and eggs." The old landlord then hastily withdrew, hurried home, and
commanded his cook to prepare ham and eggs for General Jackson's dinner.
The ham of that day was a different thing from the flabby, flavorless
so-called "sugar cured" counterfeit of the present day, and thousands of
other well meaning citizens besides General Jackson were fond of the ham
of the olden time. Eggs, of course, are the same now as of yore, but
simply and solely because modern food corrupters have not discovered any
method of debauching them.
[Illustration: WORKMAN HOUSE.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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