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Historic Tavern

Malden Tavern (closed)

Formerly/Also Known As John Krepps Tavern, Taylor's Tavern, Acklin's Tavern, Bailey's Tavern, Pepper's Tavern, Garrett's Tavern

Old National Pike
Brownsville, PA 15417

Now a private residence.

From Searight's The Old Pike (1894):

About two and one-half miles west of Krepps' Ferry an ancient hamlet called by old pike boys Malden is reached. Here on the north side of the road stands an old stone tavern, which in the palmy days of the road was a popular stopping point. It belonged originally to the old Krepps family, of Brownsville, and was designed and erected for a tavern. It was evidently the belief of the old owners that a town would grow up on this site, as they caused a stone in the front wall of the old tavern, near the top, to be dressed and inscribed in cut letters with the name Kreppsville. This name, however, was not adopted by the public, but the place was, and continues to be known as Malden. The origin of this name is not positively known, but tradition has it that a party of emigrants encamping on the ground one night, fancying that it resembled the place of their nativity, Malden, probably in the State of Massachusetts, gave it that name. Be this as it may, Malden is the popular name of the locality. The old tavern here was built in two sections and at different dates. The original, which is now the western section, was built in 1822, and a dressed stone in its front wall bears that date. The second, or eastern section, was built in 1830. It is the second section that bears the name Kreppsville, above mentioned; and, in addition, the stone slab disclosing this name shows the date 1830, also the word “Liberty,” and the figure of a plow and sheaf of wheat. Bry Taylor was the first person who kept the old tavern at Malden, and he was constantly busy while there in attending to the wants of the traveling public. He had an amiable and beautiful daughter, Kizzie, who was accidentally killed in this house, causing great sorrow in the neighborhood. Her brother, James, had been out hunting one day, and returning, placed his gun negligently on a table. His sister, Miss Kizzie, be sought him to put the gun in a safe place, which he declined to do, remarking that “it wouldn't hurt anybody where it was.” Miss Kizzie did not share his confidence in regard to the absence of danger, and proceeded to remove the gun herself. Her brother interfered to prevent the gun's removal, when a scuffle ensued between the parties, during which the gun was discharged, and Miss Kizzie was fatally shot. The room in which this sad affair occurred is still pointed out to visitors. As if by the law of compensation, James Taylor, the brother, many years afterward was himself shot. He became a river man, and gradually made his way to points down the Ohio and Mississippi, and was finally shot and killed by a United States Marshal near Memphis. Samuel Acklin followed Taylor in the old tavern at Malden, and was favored with a large patronage, consisting mainly of wagoners and drovers. Acklin was at this house as early as 1836. Samuel Bailey succeeded Acklin, and Bailey was succeeded in turn by William Pepper and William Garrett. James Britton, now and for thirty years past, has owned this property. He occupies the old tavern as a private residence, and operates the fertile farm attached to it.

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Malden Tavern
Malden Tavern, ca. 1950. Photograph by A.S. Burns. Courtesy of the Library of Congress/Historic American Buildings Survey.


Malden Tavern
Malden Tavern, ca. 1950. Photograph by Jack E. Boucher. Courtesy of the Library of Congress/Historic American Buildings Survey.


Malden Tavern
Malden Tavern, ca. 1950. Photograph by Jack E. Boucher. Courtesy of the Library of Congress/Historic American Buildings Survey.


Malden Tavern
Malden Tavern, ca. 1950. Photograph by Jack E. Boucher. Courtesy of the Library of Congress/Historic American Buildings Survey.


Malden Tavern
Malden Tavern, ca. 1950. Photograph by Jack E. Boucher. Courtesy of the Library of Congress/Historic American Buildings Survey.


Malden Tavern
Malden Tavern, ca. 1950. Photograph by Jack E. Boucher. Courtesy of the Library of Congress/Historic American Buildings Survey.


Malden Tavern
Malden Tavern. Photograph by John Kennedy Lacock and Ernest K. Weller, 1910.



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Last updated: 2014-04-09 08:33:39

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