On the Square’s South side stood the famous Eagle Tavern. Its site is
now the East wing of the Monticello Hotel. For almost two centuries this
spot has been the site of a house of entertainment, and has never had
any other use.
The date of the first building is not recorded. The lot was cut off and
sold in 1765; the village then was two years old, and the lot was new.
When sold for the second time, in 1791, it is described as a tavern. The
building probably followed the first purchase.
The Eagle Tavern was a wooden, two-and-a-half story building, with the
sign of the eagle displayed. A deep porch covered its front, and on this
travelling peddlers habitually sold their goods: saddles, boots, dry
goods, etc. This for some decades was an important item in the supplies
of the village, but after 1835-36 it died away.
Later, this wooden structure was replaced by the present low brick
building. The name became Eagle Hotel, and so continued until 1863, when
it became the Farish House.
Of its use before the coming of the railways we are told that on court
days 200 or more persons dined here, and in the stables and lot 250
horses were fed. Reminiscing, an early citizen wrote:
“In 1833 the price of board and lodging was ten dollars per month. The
public room was a spacious hall, having in it a large open
fireplace.... In one corner of this public room was the bar, having
shelves on which were ranged decanters and bottles of the ardent—the
elixir of life.... Our farmers sat down to a superb dinner, and
cheerfully paid the landlord fifty cents for it—not as in the present
times, when many bring snacks in their pockets and eat them while
sitting at a fire kept up by the landlord for the guests of the
hotel.”
As late as the 1790’s public dances were given here, and were attended
by high and low, the different classes keeping to themselves, though
without friction. (This mingling was doubtless due to the scarcity of
music.) Here, too, the political parties celebrated their victories with
great dinners, and endless speeches and toasts.
An old book gives this somewhat disconcerting glimpse of the village in
1818:
“SATAN’S THUMB”
In passing through the place in 1818, Dr. Conrad Speece attempted to
preach at night in the court house, but nearly failed, due to the
insufficient light, and the rudeness of the boys. He spent the night
at the tavern, and such were the sentiments uttered by the prominent
gentlemen, and such the conduct of the young men frequenting the
tavern, that he said the next day: “When Satan promised all the
kingdoms of the world to Christ, he laid his thumb on Charlottesville,
and whispered, ‘_except this place, which I reserve for my own
especial use_’.”
This old hostelry in its day housed all the great men of the vicinity,
and a great many from a distance.