Vann Tavern

Based on the photo numbers, I suspect I saw the informational sign about New Town Road somewhere along the walk from the Worcester House to Vann Tavern. However, I chose to include the picture I took (and the sign's text) on the second stop page (Town Center) since it seemed to fit better there. So, that takes us straight to stop eight. And, I will bet you did not know today's common place "drive-thru window" was a Cherokee innovation (more about that later).

The top picture was taken in 1998. Once again, changes in the photos fascinate me. See the small tree with the brown leaves (to the right of the building) in that top picture? There it is again in the image at left taken in 2005. The manmade remains the same, but that which is alive continues to grow. What will it look like in 100 years? By then, will it have also disappeared from the landscape? Time (just a measure of change?) marches on.

Let's check the SGT brochure/map to see what it says about stop number seven. "Indian operated stores and taverns were built throughout the Cherokee Nation. This structure is an original Cherokee tavern built about 1805 by James Vann, [Remember the Vann House in Scrapbook Photos?] a wealthy Cherokee plantation owner. It was originally built near the Chattahoochee River in what is now Forsyth County, Georgia and was moved to New Echota in 1955. The tavern served travelers on the Federal Road as a restaurant, store, and inn. An outside stairway on the rear of the building served as entrance to the guest rooms. The small opening under the stairs served as a 'take out service' for those whom the innkeeper did not allow inside. A Cherokee building, probably a dwelling house or store, stood on this location in the 1830's. The well at the rear dates back to the 1830's."

One of my favorite images here is looking out at the well (left). It was photographed down from the "take out service" opening (below) I refer to as the drive-thru window. I have no idea if it really was a Cherokee innovation, or common, considering the stated use.

The sign tells us almost the same thing as the brochure, mentioning why it was moved, and also the chimney, which is quite impressive. "This is an original Cherokee structure built about 1805 by James Vann, a wealthy Cherokee plantation owner. It was originally located near present day Gainesville, Georgia. When Lake Lanier was built in the 1950s, the building had to be moved to prevent its destruction. The tavern served travelers on the Federal Road as a restaurant, tavern, store and inn. An outside stairway in the rear of the building served as the entrance to the three guest rooms upstairs. The chimney is original and was also moved in 1955. The room on the left served as kitchen and living quarters for the tavern keeper. The small opening under the stairway served as a "take out service" for those whom the tavern keeper did not allow inside."

The chimney is one of those shots you cannot quite get into a single picture. The two images at left have an overlap (the three cross braces) which can give you some perspective. It seemed the best way to place the photos to present a basic feel for its size.

I have kind of jumped around a little, starting with some of the things I found unique or interesting. But, since we are already inside, we might as well look at more before going back out.

Before heading outside, here is one more shot of the fireplace in the main downstairs area. This picture is from 2000. I like it better than the ones from 2005, but in those photos a long blowgun hangs across the racks below the antlers. We used blowguns made from rivercane and darts with thistledown for small game hunting.

Alright - out the front door and down the steps for a look around before we are ready to move on to stop number eight (Print Shop).


		"Follow the path to the Printing office. This part of the trail follows New Town Road which served as the "main street" of New Echota. By 1830 a road system was in place throughout the Cherokee Nation. Many of the modern highways in North Georgia still follow sections of the Cherokee roads." The SGT brochure/map heads us back out onto New Town Road to get to the print shop. My photo inventory numbers from 1998 place one more sign in this vicinity. It is the only shot I have of this particular piece of information.

William J. Tarvin was a Georgian who moved to New Echota in 1829 to trade with the Cherokees. He built a dwelling house and store on New Town Road. Tarvin served as postmaster of New Echota from 1831 - 1841. The family also included his wife Cassandra and eight children. The site of Tarvin’s house, store, and spring are now on private property. In 1833 Tarvin expanded his New Echota business to also include food and lodging. In a newspaper advertisement he offered, "as good fare as the country affords . . . supper, lodging, horse feed, and breakfast, $1.00"