Stacy’s Tavern
In 1835, Moses Stacy came
from New York to this area. Moses,
with his wife, and two sons built a
log cabin on Main Street. In 1846,
Stacy’s Tavern was built. It became
a major stopping place for farmers,
pioneers, stagecoach riders, and
traveling preachers. All of these
people were passing through the
area and needed a safe, dry place
to stay.
Click on the screen to
move to the next page.
Stacy’s Tavern was a half-way stop between Chicago and the Fox River Valley.
Back in the 1840s it took two to five days to travel from Stacy’s Tavern to Chicago.
Mr. and Mrs. Stacy charged just $0.50 (fifty cents) for “supper, lodging, breakfast,
and two horses to hay.” That means people could safely stay the night, eat good
food, and keep their horses nearby in the Stacy’s barn for only 50 cents.
On the main floor of Stacy’s
Tavern there is a Ladies Parlor.
This was a place where ladies
could meet, chat, and enjoy a
hot cup of tea. There was a
separate room on the main floor
where men could get
refreshments, talk with other
men, and play games like
checkers.
Mrs. Stacy cooked in the kitchen and everyone ate in the dining room. Upstairs
there were two main rooms for travelers to stay in, one room was for men to
sleep in, and the other room was for women and children to sleep in. Mr. and
Mrs. Stacy had a bedroom upstairs, and their two boys also shared a bedroom
upstairs.
Because so many people were traveling down the road in front of Stacy’s
Tavern, the Tavern became the center of activity in the community. This area
became known as Stacy’s Corners, and this is why our community’s second name
was called Stacy’s Corners.
Today we can visit the Stacy’s Tavern Museum and travel back in
time to see what life was like back in the 1840s. We can see the
stove that Mrs. Stacy’s cooked on to prepare meals for all the
travelers, we can see the dining room, ladies parlor, men’s room
and the bedrooms upstairs where the travelers stayed.
A stagecoach rider is a passenger who paid to travel on a stagecoach. A stagecoach
is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, usually pulled by four or more
strong horses. People traveled by stagecoach because they did not own their
own horses and wagons. Cars were not invented yet, so people traveled this way
to reach our town.
Click on the star
to return to the story.
Lodging means a place to stay. If we were
traveling with our families today, we might
stay at a hotel or get lodging at a hotel. Back
in the 1840’s there were no hotels so Stacy’s
Tavern provided the lodging for travelers.
Click on the star
to return to the story.
Location of Stacy’s Tavern
Click on the star to
Return to the story.