Early Life of Lexington Before the Year 1820
Taverns & Stage Coach Lines
Lexington in early days had many taverns. The first mentioned in the Gazette was Bray's Tavern (Sept. 29, 1787); and according to common report it was the first in the town. The advertisements give very little detail about the character of those inns. All the owners boasted that they were careful to provide good entertainment for both man and horse, and that they could accommodate select companies with private rooms, and with dinner or supper on the shortest notice (Mar. 1, 1788; Dec. 6, 1794; Jan. 16, 1796). From other sources in the paper, however, we gather that the tavern was of greatest importance in the life of the community. The ball room was always in demand, not only for balls, but also for musical entertainments and wax figure exhibitions. Committees, assemblies and public dinner functions found it a convenient and suitable place for holding their meetings.
These inns had various signs, such as, The Sheaf of Wheat (Jan. 2, 1798), The American Eagle (Jan. 31, 1799), The Buffalo (July 16, 1805), The Eagle (Apr. 23, 1805), and The Indian Queen (Jan. 6, 1817). As a rule the taverns were designated merely by the name of the owners, as Capt. Young's, &c. But in the case of three, special titles were given: Old Ironsides, Columbian Inn, and Traveller's Hall (June 12, 1804; June 13, 1814; Feb. 12, 1815). The most famous of the taverns was Postlethwait's. In 1804 Mr. Postlethwait handed the management over to Joshua Wilson, formerly of Bairdstown (June 5, 1804). The first owner was not in charge again until 1809 (July 22, 1809). During his retirement, Traveller's Hall, under the management of R. Bradley, became the most important inn of the town. In 1804 the owner advertised the best stable forage, imported and country provisions, imported liquors, foreign newspapers, and ice during hot weather. He had also just purchased the lot next door, upon which to build a dining room, an assembly room, each 54 by 32 feet, and six additional lodging rooms (June 12, 1804). In 1806 John Downing became the proprietor of this tavern (Dec. 15, 1806). Three years later the Hall, now known as the Kentucky Hotel, was owned by Henry Clay, and managed by Cuthbert Banks (Jan. 3, 1809). In 1812 the hotel again changed managers, and William Satterwhite assumed the responsibility (Jan. 14, 1812).
In their advertisements the tavern keepers laid special stress upon their good stable accommodations. The Columbian Inn in 1814 boasted of a stable large enough for 80 or 90 horses (June 13, 1814). Old Ironsides Tavern in 1816 had a stable which held 60 horses (Feb. 12, 1816). There were also separate stables in the town. In 1795 John Kennedy was prominent as a hostelry owner (Jan. 10, 1795); and in 1797 George Adams had as the sign for his stable the Indian King (Mar. 15, 1797).
The first mention of a stage coach was made August 9, 1803. At this time John Kennedy opened a line between Lexington and Olympian Springs. The stage started from Lexington every Thursday at four a.m., “precisely,” and arrived at the Springs on the same day. Passengers engaged their places of R. Bradley at the stage office. The fare to the Springs was twenty one shillings; to Mt. Sterling, fifteen shillings; and to Winchester, nine shillings. Each passenger was allowed ten pounds of baggage, but was charged three cents per pound for all in excess of that weight (Aug. 9, 1803). During the sessions of the General Assembly a stage was run between Lexington and Frankfort. The coach started from Mr. Bradley's Inn every Monday and Friday at daybreak; and from Frankfort every Tuesday and Saturday at noon. The fare was nine shillings, and one and a half cents was the extra charge per pound for all baggage in charge of ten pounds (Oct. 11, 1803). The next year, 1804, Mr. Kennedy took Mr. Daley into partnership. As in the previous year, Traveller's Hall was the starting place, at sunrise on Monday and Friday; and Bush's Tavern at Frankfort on Tuesday and Saturday at twelve. Passengers were breakfasted on Mondays and Fridays; and dined on Tuesdays and Saturdays at the Stage Tavern Half Way House (Apr. 10, 1804). In 1814 the Columbian Inn kept a good “coachee” for six or seven passengers, which ran to Mud Lick and Greenville Springs, or other towns, when there was a sufficient number of passengers to justify the trip (June 13, 1814). Four years later in March the Gazette announced that the stage would commence running to Louisville and Maysville (Mar. 27, 1818). This may signify, however, not the commencement of a route to these cities, but rather the resumption of one after the winter season.
Delcamp, Mary Estelle. Early Life of Lexington Before the Year 1820. Transylvania University, 1916.
Transcribed by P. Brinegar.
Updated January 13, 2026.