Historic Tavern Building Sold In Anne Arundel County: Realtors

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The historic building holding Reynolds Tavern was just sold in downtown Annapolis, realtors announced Thursday.

The broker said Wes and Marilyn Burge, who have leased the site since 2003, will still operate Reynolds Tavern and 1747 Pub at 7 Church Circle.

"We share in the new owner's excitement in purchasing Reynolds Tavern and appreciate their support and collaboration in our continued service to the community," the Burge family said in a press release.

Previous owners Andrew and Jill Petit sold the nearly 300-year-old building to Dave and Diane Rey for an undisclosed price, Hyatt Commercial Real Estate said.

The building started as a tavern and added a boarding house. A bank operated the site for over a century, and it was nearly demolished to build a gas station. Preservationists converted the property into a library instead. It has since been restored to its original use as a pub.

Hatter and barkeeper William Reynolds constructed the building in 1747 and called it "The Beaver and Lac'd Hat." The pub hosted esteemed guests like Founding Father George Washington, Hyatt Commercial Real Estate said. Realtors called it "one of the oldest operational taverns in the nation."

The pub was sold to John Davidson for $1,500 in 1796. His widow operated a boarding house there until 1811 when Farmers National Bank bought the tavern and its land. The bank added the back wing in 1906.

Standard Oil Company tried to buy and demolish the building in 1935 to build a gas station, but preservationists intervened.

The Anne Arundel County Public Library bought it in 1936 for $20,000 and operated a branch there until 1974.

The building was then transferred to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and leased to the Historic Annapolis Foundation.

The site was leased to the Historic Inns of Annapolis in 1984, but plans to renovate the location and return it to a pub proved too costly. Farmers National Bank moved back in in 1992.

The Petit family bought the property in 2000, restoring the tavern to its original use.

The new owners are committed to preserving the location's history. Co-owner Diane Rey is helping renovate a 100-year-old former summer house on the Delaware shore. She also participates in historical reenactments.

Justin Mullen, John Gallagher and Cecil Cummins represented the seller of the property, Reynolds Tavern, LLC. Dennis Murphy and Phil Hager represented the buyers.