St. Mary's City in St. Mary's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
A Place to Talk, Drink, & Smoke
Photographed By Adam Margolis, December 18, 2021
1. A Place to Talk, Drink, & Smoke Marker
Inscription.
A Place to Talk, Drink, and Smoke. . On this spot, archeologists found the remains of an 18 ft. by 26 ft. structure which was built around 1678 as a bake and brew house. While historical information about the building is sparse, archeological remains found here indicate that Garrett Van Sweingen used the building as a "Coffee House." Coffee houses were fashionable in 17th century England as places to talk, drink, and smoke. This was the first known coffee house in the Chesapeake region, suggesting that early Marylanders wanted their colonial capital to be a sophisticated and urban city. The brickwork before you is a reconstruction.
On this spot, archeologists found the remains of an 18 ft. by 26 ft. structure which was built around 1678 as a bake and brew house. While historical information about the building is sparse, archeological remains found here indicate that Garrett Van Sweingen used the building as a "Coffee House." Coffee houses were fashionable in 17th century England as places to talk, drink, and smoke. This was the first known coffee house in the Chesapeake region, suggesting that early Marylanders wanted their colonial capital to be a sophisticated and urban city. The brickwork before you is a reconstruction.
Location. 38° 11.118′ N, 76° 26.016′ W. Marker is in St. Mary's City, Maryland, in St. Mary's County. Marker can be reached from Old State House Road west of Point Lookout Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 47414 Old State House Road, Saint Marys City MD 20686, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 15, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. This page has been viewed 166 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on January 1, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
