Article: Bardstown's historical Old Talbott Tavern 

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Thomas Hembrey, thembrey@aol.com
Mary Yoder, mayoder@davesworld.net
Webmasters, ATHS
County Coordinators, KYGenWeb Project
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A Piece of History Is Gone

     An early morning fire swept through Bardstown's historical Old Talbott Tavern on Saturday 
morning, March 7, 1998. 

     According to tradition the Old Talbott Tavern was built in 1779 during the Revolutionary 
War and before Bardstown was established as a town in 1782. The tavern was licensed in 1785 
under Virginia Governor Patrick Henry.

   In the 1800's the tavern served as a stagecoach stop which brought many famous people. Though 
George Washington didn't sleep there (this is probably the only place not to claim that honor), 
Daniel Boone, Abraham Lincoln, Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson, General William Henry Harrison, 
Stephen Foster, and John J. Audubon did over the years.

   According to local news reports that covered the air waves the day of the fire, spectators 
wept as they gathered on the courthouse square. The guests in the Talbott's seven bedroom Inn 
escaped after smoke detectors woke them around 5:30 a.m. None of the other historic buildings on 
the square were damaged.

   When the roof caved in during the day, the murals on the second floor were lost as well as 
the famous bullet holes, attributed to the outlaw Jesse James.

   The original section, built of stone about 200 years ago, appeared to have survived, as well 
as the pub and kitchen.

   The owners, Bardstown Lawyer John Kelly, Jr. and his wife Betty, plan on rebuilding at last 
report. WAVE-TV reported that there is a fund for the restoration:

Tavern Restoration Fund
Farmer's Band & Trust of Bardstown
P.O. Box 305
Bardstown, KY 40004

checks made out to "Tavern Restoration Fund"