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Jul
29
Where is Isaac Hunter’s Tavern?
Written by J. Chavis and filed under History, Editorial, Food and Beverage
It seems to be a cool thing these days to give pubs or restaurants historically significant names. This is especially true if you can establish a connection to that name.
Take, for example, the Raleigh Times. The “Times” and its neighbor/partner “The Morning Times” have taken Raleigh’s old afternoon paper building from the early 1900s and turned into a bar and a coffee shop. Like everyone else, my hat goes off to Greg and the gang at Empire Properties for not only opening up some nice hang-out spots, but also for preserving a bit of the local history in the process.
Judging from the fact that I almost never see an empty table or chair as I stroll by The Times or the fact that the Morning Times has turned into a veritable who’s-who of downtown Raleigh from about 7 to 10am, it seems like the whole community history appreciation thing hasn’t hurt the profit margin.
Here’s my question, though: Where is Isaac Hunter’s Tavern? After all, it may very well be the reason we have a Raleigh to begin with.
You see, back in the day (aka the late 1700s) people out in Western NC were getting sick of the long horseback ride out to New Bern (Raleigh’s predecessor as State Capital). So it was agreed that a more centrally located capital city would be ideal. But, no one in the State legislature could agree on what city should become the new capital.
The legislature had already appointed a commission to handle the task of ratifying the US Constitution so they basically told the commission, “…and while you’re at it, ya’ll pick out a place for our new State Capital.”
Turns out the members of that commission were fond of a little pub called Isaac Hunter’s Tavern (located in the vicinity of where Old Wake Forest Rd is today). Perhaps it was their idea of a joke, or maybe they had just had too much to drink, but they reported back to the legislature with the directive that the new capital should be within ten miles of the property belonging to Isaac Hunter.
There was almost nothing within ten miles of Isaac Hunter’s tavern, so the State had to buy 1,000 acres of farmland and start a new city from scratch–and that’s what they did.
It just goes to show that Confucius was right when he said, “Never underestimate the political importance of a good watering hole.”
So where is Isaac Hunter’s Tavern? Well, it doesn’t exist as of now, but perhaps it should.
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6 Responses to “Where is Isaac Hunter’s Tavern?”
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I always assumed it stood near closer to Joel Lane’s house, seeing as it was his land that most of downtown is now on? I dunno…maybe it wasn’t that close.
The ironic thing about this post is that the building Morning Times is in *was* called “Hunter’s”, named after the tavern’s Isaac Hunter in the mid to late 90s. They opneed for lunch and used to have a good portabello sandwich and a tasty Fayetville Street Cheesesteak. They also managed a restaurant in Cameron Village which became Blue Marlin and is now Village Draft House.
For a while, a lot of political business was conducted at Joe’s Place at Dawson and Martin. Fayetville Street Tavern *could* be the modern day Issaac Hunter’s, since it is close to the General Assembly. But I don’t know if the General Assembly knows it exists. They seem to be more of a 42nd street seafood/Glenwood South crowd…
Supposedly it was “near crabtree creek” and “approximately 10 miles from Joel Lane’s house” according to old government documents.
The tavern was located at the intersection of Wake Forest Rd and St. Albans drive under what is now the Hilton North. it sat on the Biggs property which was sold to a developer in the 80s to build the hotel. There were no preservation steps taken even though it was found in the 60s to be intact
It was actually located at Wake Forest Rd and Old Wake Forest Rd. On Old Wake Forest Rd. on the left hand side right after passing the Red Lobster. Approximately 1/2 mile from Millbrook Rd. It was owned by the Hunter family until recently, approximately 2002.
Johnathan, I think your facts may be off just a little bit. Because the area you are talking about was The Raleigh Speedway for NASCAR races from 1952 til 1972 .