Mahone's Tavern and Museum Inc.

                                                                   General William Mahone                                                               

Campaign Save Mahone's Tavern

Courtland, Virginia August 2008 Press Release

     In southeastern Virginia, the town of Courtland is the county seat in Southampton County. Like most southern towns, country cured smoked hams,  roasted peanuts , southern- style fried chicken, collard greens, chopped  pork barbecue, brunswick stew, stone ground  cornmeal, and field fresh produce are still usually what tourist remember to eat or take back home with them when they come to visit  here.

     Names like Beale, Blythe, Briggs, Camp, Darden, Gillette, Hancock , Kello, Manry, Mahone, McGrath, Joyner, Johnson, Story, Ridley, and Sebrell and Simmons, all are still local family  names whose ancestors worked selling goods such as country hams, peanuts, corn meal, etc. for a living here and helped place Courtland on the map. These names are a vital part of our area’s  history . But when it comes to “Hero” and War between the States  history, the name “Mahone” stands for Courtland native  Major General William Mahone and his career is equally remembered for his contributions here in railroads.

     Sitting across from the famous, historic, court house since 1796 is the famed “Mahone's Tavern” House. “Someone has lived in this house for well past 200 years”, says local historian , and Courtland native Tommy Simmons. I was told by my friend and owner Woodie Watkinson that the house was built by Hunt and Adams, and Dr. Kindred, and Clerk of Court Samuel Blythe Kello once lived there. Conveyance to Feilding Mahone took place in 1840. Feilding was the father of General Mahone that lived, died, and was buried there.

     Anyone passing through this small rural southern town can’t help but notice the beautiful old courthouse and all of it’s, beauty surrounding it. Seven Gables, the Rochelle- Prince House, the Westbrook House, the Registrar’s Office, the Boise Bell House and  beside them all stands this stately of a Antebellum Mansion-The Mahone's Tavern House”.

“The chivalry and graciousness of the old south, indeed, is brought right into the twenty first century,” says Tommy Simmons,“ the minute you walk through the front door” now owned by Harwood “Woodie” Watkinson and his family.

     SCV members of the Urquhart-Gillette Camp #1471 in March 2008 launched a massive  fund raising campaign  goal to purchase   this historic tavern. Watkinson did sell, and has kept his plan to  retire to  the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia.   Simmons who is Commander of his Camp,  desired to preserve and protect for future generations  this landmark. His camp and the local UDC members could meet monthly at the tavern. The Camp had plans for a museum there. The Urquhart-Gillette Camp#1471 owns quite a unique collection of photographs, Mahone books, and  letters .We wanted to make the house available   for children to come and learn local history while offering it to the community,  for Heritage Day events and things like a  southern Christmas ”Open House” during late November through December.

     Recently, a special financial strategist and Mahone enthusiast appeared and that individual  purchased the landmark. The property is now off the weak real estate market, and the strategist has offered the tavern to the SCV camp with long-term financing . Simmons is excited! Southampton County’s heritage and history, indeed will be preserved.

     If you would like to make a donation to help restore and preserve the Tavern, make checks payable to:
Mahone's Tavern & Museum, Inc., P.O. Box 565, Courtland, VA 23837. If you have any questions please contact Warren A. Simmons, President at wsimmons@truevine.net or C. Earl Blythe, Vice President at eblythe4@verizon.net.

     Mahone's Tavern was the home-place of General William“Billy”Mahone , who on July 30, 1864, became the “Hero of the Battle of the Crater” in Petersburg, Va during the War Between the States. He was buried in 1895 aside his soldiers at Blandford Cemetery .

Web Questions Travis Covington