An old tavern, known as the “Brown Stand,” four miles west of “Pine Orchard,” was a popular stopping place for wagoners in its day. In 1838 Levi Chambers took charge of this house, and continued to conduct it until 1842. He was called “Nullifier” Chambers, because of his adherence to the nullification doctrine, announced and advocated by John C. Calhoun. He, however, knew how to keep a tavern, and was a sober and intelligent man. On the first of January, 1841, John Crampton and William Orr, old wagoners before mentioned, drove out from Baltimore with full loads, and put up at the “Brown Stand.” During the night a box of silk goods was stolen from Orr’s wagon. The loss was discovered early in the morning, and Orr and Chambers each mounted a horse and pushed out in the direction of Baltimore, in search of the stolen goods and the thief. There was a light snow on the road, and tracks were visible, indicative of rapid steps toward the east. Reaching Baltimore, Messrs. Orr and Chambers entered the bar room of the May Pole tavern, in which a number of persons were drinking, and among them one, who, from his actions, was suspected as the thief. He was arrested, tried, convicted, and sent to the penitentiary.
Four miles west of the “Nullifier’s,” John Whalen kept a wagon stand, and one of the best on the road. Old wagoners entertain pleasant recollections of John Whalen, and delight in recounting the good cheer that abounded and abided in his old tavern. He kept the tavern at this point up to the year 1842.
One Warfield kept a tavern a short distance west of Whalen’s as early as 1835, and had a good wagon custom. Old wagoners had a rough distich on this section of the road, running something like this:
“Old Wheeler’s sunfish,
Bob Fowler’s roast goose,
Warfield’s ham,
Ain’t that jam!”
New Lisbon was an aspiring village, twenty-six miles west of Baltimore, and the first point of note west of Whalen’s. Stages stopped and teams were changed at New Lisbon, but it had no wagon stand.
At Poplar Springs, one mile west of New Lisbon, there was a wagon stand kept by Allen Dorsie. Near the old tavern is a large, gushing spring, in the midst of tall poplar trees, and hence the name “Poplar Springs.” Such was the situation at this point fifty years ago, but alas, fifty years is a long time, and the “Poplar Springs” may present a different appearance now. Allen Dorsie, the old proprietor of the tavern here, was likewise and for many years superintendent of the Maryland division of the road. He was a very large man, six feet in height, and rounded out in proportion. He was besides a man of admitted integrity and good intellect. He ceased keeping tavern at Poplar Springs in 1842.
Seven miles west of Poplar Springs Van McPherson kept a tavern, which did an extensive business. The proprietor was half Dutch and half Irish, as his name imports, and he had the faculty of pleasing everybody. His house was a brick structure on the north side of the road, and is probably still standing. Van McPherson kept this house from 1836 to 1842, and made money in it.