THE ATKINSON TAVERN (C. 1789)

The Atkinson Tavern once stood at the aptly named Atkinson Hollow in the town of Prescott, Massachusetts. Never heard of Prescott? That may be due to the fact that it no longer exists. Prescott, along with three other Swift River Valley towns, Dana, Enfield, and Greenwich, was claimed by the state to become Quabbin Reservoir. Helen Storrow “rescued” the building in 1928 and brought it to Storrowton Village. Its original owner, Revolutionary War hero, John Atkinson, used it as a store, tavern, and home for his own family.

Dances and town meetings took place on the second floor of the tavern in what was the largest hall in Prescott. The rooms used by the family were separated from the store and taproom by a hallway. The tavern functions as a modern restaurant today, and should you head inside of the building for traditional New England cuisine, take a moment to admire the comfortable fireplaces and beautiful wood paneling. On your way in, take a look at the granite hitching posts, linked with iron chains in front of the Tavern, a reminder of transportation and days gone by.