Carved and Painted Pine Tavern Sign

Carved and Painted Pine Tavern Sign, possibly Westhaven, Vermont, c. 1787, the scrolled cresting dated "1787," above the rectangular center section with applied molded surround, with vestiges of a tavern keeper and lettering reading "A. Smith/Tavern," double cyma-curved cutout lower edge, ht. 38, wd. 19 in., now housed in a modern framework for stabilization.

Note: This sign may be associated with Apollos Smith (1756-1810) of Sharon, Connecticut, who moved to Westhaven, Vermont, about 1787, where he opened the "Smith Tavern." His son, Apollos (1779- ), also operated the tavern for many years. See History of Rutland County, Vermont, edited by H.P. Smith and W.S. Rann (D. Mason & Co., Publishers, Syracuse, New York, 1886), p. 864.