Dill's Tavern Explained

Dill's Tavern
Location:227 N. Baltimore St., Dillsburg, Pennsylvania
Coordinates:40.1153°N -77.0372°W
Built:1755, 1800, 1820, 1835, 1910
Architecture:Early Republic, Colonial Revival
Added:March 18, 2004
Refnum:04000195

Dill's Tavern, also known as Eichelberger's Tavern and The Logan House, is a historic site located at Dillsburg, Pennsylvania. The Irish settler Matthew Dill began establishing the Monaghan settlement in 1742 which later boasted a wooden tavern or way-station with the same name, productive agricultural yields, and a whiskey still.[1] The 190 acre plantation grew to encompass 650 acres located just south of the Dill's Gap on the northern end of the South Mountain range between what is Cumberland County and York County.[2] Matthew Dill's son James Dill inherited the property after his father's death in 1742 and expanded on his father's business. James Dill's son, John Dill, was transferred 393 acres of the 650 acre plantation in 1784. John Dill later constructed the stone Tavern in 1794 to replace the old tavern that was probably made of wood. John Dill expanded production on the plantation to have a stable for herders and drovers moving livestock, two log barns, a granary, bakehouse, and spring house including improved lodging accommodations for travelers. The property was deeded to Leonard Eichelberger in 1800 that later expanded and tripled the size of the original stone Tavern built by John Dill and continued to run the distillery and tavern as well as his wagon building and wheelwright business on the plantation.[3] [4] Today, the Dill's Tavern stands as is a large, 2 12-story, L-shaped sandstone building in a vernacular Federal style. It was originally built about 1794, with additions made about 1800, 1820, and 1910, and Colonial Revival-style alterations made about 1935. It housed a tavern until 1835, after which it was a private residence and an antiques store.[5]

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. The Tavern is owned and operated by the Northern York County Historical & Preservation Society and is open to the public as a living history museum.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Norwalk, Jay. The Dill Family of Dillsburg and Dilltown, Pennsylvania: And Related Genealogies of the Conrad, Matter, Hays, King, Steinmeyer, Maneely, Calderwood, Barclay, Cole, Strayhorn, Gibson, and Ross Families. Axion Press. 2001. Newcastle, ME. 119.
  2. Dill, Rosalie Jones. Mathew Dill, xvii, quoting Hemminger, J. D. Old Roads of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Paper Read before the Hamilton Library Association, Carlisle, Pa., March 23, 1909. S.l.: S.n., 1909. 32.
  3. Book: Eichelberger, Abdiel Wirt. Historical Sketch of Philip Fredrick Eichelberger Who Came from Ittlingen, Germany in 1728 and of His Descendants with a Family Register. Hanover Herald Print. 1901. Hanover, PA. 143.
  4. Deed Transfer: Dill, John to Eichelberger, Leonard, p. 130, Feb. 16 1801. Deed Books 1749-1901. York County Archives (Copy).
  5. Web site: National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania. CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Searchable database. 2011-12-17. 2007-07-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20070721014609/https://www.dot7.state.pa.us/ce/SelectWelcome.asp. dead. Note: This includes Web site: [{{NRHP-PA|H098035_01H.pdf}} National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Dill's Tavern]. 2011-12-08. Barbara A. Brand. PDF. October 2003.
  6. News: Dill's Tavern. 2016-08-13. Northern York County Historical and Preservation Society. 2018-09-27. en-US.