Westminster Chapter Organizing Meeting Held at Cockey’s Tavern, Westminster

A Brief History of Cockey’s Tavern

Cockey’s Tavern was one of five taverns and hotels built to house travelers on the stagecoach line between Baltimore and Pittsburgh in the late eighteenth century. At the time of the Chapter’s organizing meeting, the Tavern was the only one surviving; the Tavern later closed after a fire in March 1999 and was purchased by the Carroll County Historical Society in November of that year.

The Tavern served the local community as well. A write-up by the Tavern Staff indicated that poker games were held here for high stakes, with herd of cattle and farms changing hands overnight.

After the formation of Carroll County from parts of Frederick and Baltimore Counties in 1836, Westminster became the county seat. On 3 Apr 1837, the first session of the new County Court held its first session in the main dining room of Cockey’s Tavern.

Cockey’s Tavern had some involvement in the Civil War, too. The Skirmish between Union Cavalry and Cavalry under Confederate J.E.B. Stuart occurred in the neighborhood of the tavern in June 1863; Stuart and his officers are purported to have enjoyed the Tavern’s room, board, and the company’s of the tavern’s maids.

In the 1880s the building was remodeled. An architect was employed to give it a more “modern” Victorian look, which it retained through the twentieth century.

The Luncheon

Some 49 persons attended the organizing luncheon meeting of the Westminster Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution. National and state officers attended. A number of the SAR chapters, Sons of the American Revolution members in the Westminster area, and William Winchester Daughters of the American Revolution also attended. Representatives from Carroll County Lions and Lioness clubs, Kiwanis clubs, Rotary clubs and Junior Chamber of Commerce chapters were invited.

Color Guard Advance!
First Chapter Officers are Inaugurated. Standing, left to right: Carlton Steiner, Bill Wakefield, Cecil Massie and W. King Barnes
Group Shot of SAR members. Shown at left, leaving the Tavern are mebers of the MDSSAR Color Guard . Posing for the picture proper, left to right: Bill Wakefield, Cecil Massie, Carlton Steiner, James S. Clements, Dr. J. King B. E. Seegar, W. King Barnes.
Officers of the Newly Organized Chapter standing with MDSSAR Color Guard. From left to right: Cecil Massie, Bill Wakefield, Carlton Steiner

This page last updated 31 JUL 2006