Black Horse Tavern | |
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General information | |
Address | Canonsburg, Pennsylvania |
Coordinates | 40°15′04″N 80°11′32″W / 40.2510°N 80.1923°W |
Opened | 1794 |
Demolished | ca. 1910 |
Owner | Henry Westbay (founder) |
Black Horse Tavern was a historic tavern in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.
Black Horse Tavern was founded in 1794 by Henry Westbay, a native of Ireland. [1] That year, during the early stages of the Whiskey Rebellion, the rebels met at the Black Horse Tavern to plan attacks on federal forces. [2] Leaders of the rebellion intercepted federal mail between Philadelphia and federal troops at the tavern. [3]
Some sources identify the Black Horse Tavern as the birthplace of the Whiskey Rebellion. [4] Other sources are less certain on the role of the tavern in the rebellion, ascribing the tavern's prominent role in the Whiskey Rebellion to " local tradition." [5] By 1795, Westbay opened a "nailing business" at the location. [1] In 1814, he sold the tavern and moved to nearby Washington. [1]
The tavern was located northwest of Daily House, on the road between Budd's Ferry on the Youghiogheny River to McFarlen's Ferry on Monongahela River. [5]
The remains of the tavern were removed to make room for the new Canonsburg High School. [6]
In 1794, the Whiskey Rebellion (an uprising of farmers against excise tax on distilled liquor) began there [Canonsburg] at the Black Hose Tavern.
In 1910 the Canonsburg school board accepted his [Dave McCartney] bid to tear down what was left of the old Black Horse Tavern. The school district was planning to build a high school on the site. He signed the proposal with his mark.