A Timeline on the Tavern Located At The Northeast Corner of Church and Broad Street
By: Ill. Brother McDonald “Don” Burbidge, 33°
Shepheard's Tavern in
Charleston, South Carolina, was the birthplace of Scottish Rite Freemasonry. Of
all the public houses in early Charleston, Shepheard’s Tavern has the richest
and most significant history to Scottish Rite Masons around the world.
The building site Charles
Shepheard chose for his business was a lot at the corner of Broad and Church
Streets located near the center of Charles-Town, as it was then called. It was a
four-story oblong building (pictured above), and its purpose, while commercial,
was also to serve the community in a variety of ways.
Listed in the
“South Carolina Gazette” newspaper advertisements for Charleston the following
announcements were found concerning the history of “Shepheard’s Tavern.”
1734
An announcement in the Gazette paper states that
Mr. Charles Shepheard is the owner of the tavern located at the corner of Broad
and Church Street.
In the “Gazette” paper. An announcement for tickets would
go on sale for a play “ The Orphan or the Unhappy Marriage” which was to be held
at Shepheard’s Tavern at the intersection of Broad and Church Street on October
17th. This was the first season that plays of any type where
presented in Charleston at this time.
1736
In the “South Carolina
Gazette”, a weekly journal printed at that time in “Charles-Town” and then the
only newspaper, which was published there, will be found under it’s issue of
Friday, October 28, the following paragraph;
“Last night a lodge of Ancient and Honorable
Society of Free and Accepted Masons, was held, for the first time, at Mr.
Charles Shepheard’s, in Board Street, when John Hammerton, Esq. Secretary and
Receiver General for this province, was unanimously chosen Master, who was
pleased to appoint Mr. Thomas Denne, Senior Warden, Mr. Tho. Harbin, Junior
Warden, and Mr. James Gorden, Secretary”.
1743
Advertisement found in the "South Carolina Gazette" dated: May 16th, The Hon.
William Ball, Esq.; announces Charles Shepheard as Post Master for the province
of South Carolina.
1747/1748
Mr. Charles Shepheard dies and the tavern passes ownership to Mr. John Gordon.
1754
The Grand Lodge of Freemasons was formed in this tavern.
1762
Mr. John Gordon dies and Mr. John Dillion is now listed as the new proprietor of
the tavern.
1771
Mr. John Dillion retires and the tavern is passed onto Mr. William Holliday.
This is the second tavern owned on East Bay Street by Mr. John Holliday.
1773
Mr. John Holliday departs the city. The new proprietor is listed as Mrs. Francis
Swallow who is a widow at the time.
1774
Mrs. Swallow marries Mr. Charles Ramadge and the tavern is renamed to Ramadge’s
Tavern.
1775
The information concerning the tavern is less published in the local papers
until after the Revolutionary war. After the Revolutionary war the establishment
is listed as the “City Tavern” and is known by this name for several years.
Listed in the memoirs of General William Moultrie and Dr. David Ramsey the “City
Tavern” is fondly written of by both gentlemen.
1784
Mr. Thompson leaves town late in this year. The new proprietor is listed as Mr.
James Milligan who sells the tavern, which is now used as retail and wholesales
store.
1796
The retail store is damaged in the fire of 1796.
1801
On May 31, Colonel John Mitchell and
Fredrick Dalcho opened a Supreme Council of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish
Rite; Dalcho had received the necessary qualification from Colonel John Mitchell
six days before the opening of the Supreme Council. John Mitchell, a native of
Ireland and an officer of the American Army in the Revolutionary War while Dr.
Frederick Dalcho was a native of England, who was afterwards Grand Commander of
the Council, and Assistant Rector of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in
Charleston.
1924
The Klinck, Wickenberg and Company building (formerly Shepheard’s Tavern) was
torn down and in its place was erected the new Citizens and Southern National
Bank.
Through out the years “Shepheard’s Tavern” is
listed as the following;
1)
Shepheard’s was the site of plays during Charles Town's first theatrical
season. Performances were held in the "Court Room," so called because the
province rented the large room for that purpose.
2) "Sons of Liberty" held
their meeting at Shepheard’s.
3) According to Charles
Fraser's "Reminiscences of Charleston," Shepheard’s was known popularly as the
"Corner Tavern."
4) Charleston's First Troop
of Horse was organized and the Court of Session's was held there.
5) The Charleston man came
there to read, do business, hold public meeting, and write and send letters at
Shepheard’s Tavern.
6) Advertisement found in
the "South Carolina Gazette" dated: November 19, 1744
The Subscriber has open'd his
House in Broad Street, where may be depended on,
as
Good Entertainment as this Province affords, and
the
Customers as obliging usage,
Thou most abediess humble Servant,
Charles Shepheard
7) Advertisement found in the "South Carolina Gazette" dated: May 16th, 1743
The Hon. William Ball,
Esq.; announces Charles Shepheard as Post Master for the province of South
Carolina.
If you happen to
find yourself in Charleston for the celebration take the time for the “Masonic
Walking” tour and get a feel for the city that the “Eleven Gentlemen of
Charleston” lived in. As you walk along the streets you will get a feeling of
what it might have been like when they lived in this city. The asphalt streets
were made of dirt when they lived here.
When you are at
the site of Shepheard’s Tavern stand at the corner of Church and Broad Street as
they did and look around. Try to imagine what it might have looked like to live
as they did.
“Special thanks goes out to Nic Butler for his help on this and other projects we both have worked on together.”