Built 1782-1835 (1782-1835) Area 15 ha | NRHP Reference # 96000304 Added to NRHP 12 June 1996 | |
 | ||
Architectural style Greek Revival, Italian Villa | ||
Whitney tavern top 9 facts
Whitney Tavern is a historic 19th century tavern at 11 Patriots Road in Templeton, Massachusetts. The oldest portion of this rambling wood frame structure (now a private residence) is a modest "A frame" structure built c. 1782 by Joshua Tucker as a tavern on the main road between Templeton and Gardner (in which town part of the property lies); Tucker's original tavern sign is still on the property. In 1790 a full Federal-style house was added onto the west side, onto which another ell was added in 1835. In 1848 the westernmost portion of the house was separated and moved down the street.
Contents
The tavern changed hands from the Tucker family to Jonathan Greenwood Sr. William Whitney wed Greenwood's daughter, Sybil, in 1814 and they took over running the tavern. Sybil died in 1817, and the property was deeded to William Whitney, whose family continued to operate the tavern until the 1850s. Lucas Baker (b 1828) married Sibbel Georgianna "Georgie" Whitney (b 1823, William Whitney's daughter from his second marriage, to Dulcenah Turner) in 1857.
In the 20th century the property was in the possession of their son, Lucas Lee Baker (b 1859), who periodically permitted traveling gypsy shows to use the property as a campground. The property remains in the hands of Whitney-Baker descendants to this day.
The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.