~ THE JOHN COTTING TAVERN ~

Cotting Tavern in Ye Olden Time

The above is a water color of the Tavern done prior to 1900

Nearly opposite the Union Church was this old Tavern which was a conspicuous landmark in Marlborough more than one hundred years ago. Here was the old dance hal1 whose walls could tell of cotillion parties, and balls, town meetings and church services held at different times. When Rev. Charles Forbush was the minister of one of the orthodox societies in the center of the town which had seceded from the old Spring Hill church, they held their services on the Sabbath ill the old John Cotting Tavern. Mrs. Sarah or "Aunt Sally" together with her good husband , who had given up store-keeping, set up hotel-keeping in the above long rambling- building, remembered to this day as formerly surrounded by sheds, stables and outbuildings.

The 1835 map section above indicates were the Tavern stood.  The building in the circle is the tavern; the single small star is Main Street, the two small stars indicate Hildreth Street, the three small stars inicate Bolton street and the single large star, the "Spring Hill" meeting house.

As tavern keepers the twain were very successful, making their hostelry one of the highest in repute of all the region about. This reputation was largly won for the tavern by the toil and skill of the landlady whose dinners and suppers were so satisfactory- as to leave the most agreeable memory- with each patron. Those who came to the hostelry in all these years were legion and included besides the regular public travelling by highway, a great number of sleighing and cotillion parties which made the tavern a merry place. Both landlord and landlady- were popular by reason of their personal qualities. He died in 1870 and she continued at the old tavern, refusing to leave it for an apparently more comfortable home close by offered by her son, John F. Cotting, now the property and residence of Mr. Eugene O. Brigham, who speaking of the old times and the parties said "There is a vast difference between the sleighing parties of today and those of olden times. Farmers then had but one sleigh, a square box-like structure painted yellow, with the back higher than one's head and over which a coverlet was thrown. The sleigh was so heavy that two horses generally were required to draw it. Frequently there was good sleighing for a couple of months and sleighing parties were then the order of the day. The farm wagon body was placed on runners of the woodsled, and a lot of straw was placed at the bottom .for the young men and women or the 'girls and boys' to seat themselves.
 

The 'fiddler' always accompanied the party. Then they would drive to some tavern where the first thing in order was to call for 'flip'. This beverage was simply cream beer which was served in large mugs or glasses. Every landlord had an iron rod about two feet long with a ball on the end about the size of a walnut which was heated red hot and run into every glass of beer which heated it and made it foam. This was called 'flip' which after drinking, the music struck up and there was a dance; those not wishing to dance played  games of different kinds. "

The taverns of John Cotting and Captain Sullivan Thayer across the road, had sumptuous entertainment for maw and beast so bountifully displayed that few could withstand the temptation to stop and tarry with the jolly throng. Taverns situated but a short distance from each other on the main travelled roads were as indispensable in those days as the school house or church. The old swinging sign boards projecting from those old hostelries promised a welcome and a home for all. These taverns were the resorts of all classes ; the news related and public affairs of grave importance discussed, and where all events of interest were celebrated. At that time intoxicating liquor was sold as freely at the bar to the traveling public and the lounging townsmen as the oats and corn fodder for the beasts in the stall.

Where now stands the Cotting House on Main Street,
was the location of the "Cotting Tavern"

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