The 1784 Tavern at Salem

The 1784 Tavern at Salem (now Old Salem), NC
Photo Credit: GRL3

Contrary to stereotype drunkenness in taverns of good repute was against the house rules, additionally, the laws of the county stood ready to prosecute the inebriant. Intoxication along with gambling were moral issues in Moravian taverns. The Moravian Church built, managed and owned the taverns in their villages, such as Salem. The Church knew that intoxication and gambling would spin their taverns in a direction they did not wish to have them go.

County government controlled a good deal of tavern culture in the late 18th century - including the Moravian tavern in Salem, NC. For example, what liquors and what food was served, along with the price of the same, was decreed by county or city regulation.

The tavern kitchen at Old Salem
Dated 1784
Photo Credit: GRL3

Breakfast was a big meal often featuring eggs, fish, steak, sausages, bacon, bread, coffee and tea. Dinner was placed family style on the dining tables about noon. It remained for two hours and to it the paying customer helped himself from the spread. Supper was served at seven or eight o’clock and more often than not featured left-overs.

Quality of food was not an issue at the Moravian taverns which were considered the best of the best. Good food and plenty of it. It is estimated at a good tavern served up as many as 6,000 calories a day. That the colonists, Moravian and otherwise, were not obese testifies to the degree to which they worked off those calories. 

Potted meats were a popular. Potting requires boiling or baking a chunk of meat till tender, than pounding it into a paste with a wooden hammer, mixing in spices and fat. The resulting paste was then stored in earthenware jars, sealed with melted butter or fat poured on top. This paste could be spread on bread for sandwiches and made for an easy “to go” meal.

With each meal alcohol was served. A colonial era tavern’s reputation could rise and fall on the quality of its ale. Ales were usually locally brewed. Hard liquor was common among the English colonists. Germans preferred beer. Both were served at Salem’s tavern. Salem, in fact, had its own distillery and brewery. In addition, various wines and rum were imported to Salem for its tavern. 

One of the least understood purposes of the tavern, Moravian or not, was as a social hub. Issues of the day were discussed and hammered out here. The important role of the tavern may be underscored by noting that the City Tavern in Philadelphia, was the site of the first continental congress.