The Whiskey Papers #7 - Blood Hill
Frederick Blood was happy to make it to Granville. In 1816, Fradrick -- as he spelled it -- moved from Carlisle, Massachusetts, to Licking County, Ohio. On December 18, Blood and his family were in Newark but by New Year's Day, 1817, they were residing in Granville, probably at the Buxton Inn which had opened in 1812. Blood was anxious to get going on his new farm west of what would become Alexandria. Blood had obtained a liquor permit and appears in the tax records beginning in 1817 for his tavern.
Initially, Blood had difficulty obtaining a source for whiskey. Helon Rose did not begin producing whiskey for another year, perhaps based on perceived market need. Quite possibly, Blood found his source in Union County. Along the way, Blood notes that growing grain is not profitable because it is plentiful in St. Albans and there is no real market for grain, everyone seemed to have plenty. This is perhaps another reason for Rose to make whiskey.
Oddly, Blood seems a better farmer than innkeeper. There are several reasons to say this,
- Blood constantly complains that he receives around 12-1/2 cents on the dollar because most currency is worthless. To Blood's credit, he always paid his debts and taxes, no matter how short-changed he might have been. At this time, banks were permitted to print their own currency. There was no Federal control; State control was feeble. Until Blood could get to the Bank in Granville, he never really knew how much money he had.
- Blood took great pride from his farm and orchard. This included, as well, his livestock. In particular, Blood took pride in his pork. Hold that thought for a few pages. Blood was very happy with the news of the Ohio-Erie Canal and a good market in Newark. Blood saw the canal as a place to sell some pork.
- The main sustenance seems to come from his farm, not his inn. To that end, Blood states on May 18, 1817, "I can stand at my own door and see 18 or 20 acres of my own wheat [...] I have made the people think I am a farmer," although Blood saw himself as an innkeeper.
- There are quite a few stories of Blood Tavern that suggest his Inn was, well, 'fun.' There are anecdotes that while Blood's Tavern might have had more than a fair share travelers as guests, it was also a destination for local groups.
There are many reasons for calling Blood Hill by that name. The only reason it is called Blood Hill is because Blood owned it. For example, there was no horrific battle there during the French and Indian War. The earliest settlement of what is now Johnstown-Alexandria Road and Castle Road occurred when Elijah Adams, Asa Plummer, and William Mills built cabins in the area in 1813. Plummer opened a 'House of Entertainment' on the northeast corner. This establishment has been described in some sources as a hotel or tavern and in other sources as a brothel. Since brothels do not create much in the way of historical records, this is a difficult thing to prove. Plummer sold out after a year or so to Mills, who continued to run it although some say Mills toned things down. Mills continued to run the establishment for another year or so until he sold it to Fradrick Blood in 1816.
I do not know what Blood thought when he went to bed at night. Blood was devoutly religious and highly respectful of the law. In a letter, Blood's wife Mary praises her daughter for accepting Presbyterianism while sounding a little chagrin in mentioning her son has accepted Episcopalian-Methodist belief. She excuses her son by stating, "At least he is a Christian." The elder Blood seemed hard working to make ends meet, to make improvements to his farm, and was happy with his neighbors. Blood took pleasure in the production of his 100 acres. Blood seemed happy that his inn was located along a well-traveled road and seemed to do some business. Blood died April 4, 1827. Blood had been so sick he had let his farm go while barely maintaining his innkeeping business. This was the only choice Blood could make but it left Mary in poor financial shape. Her son stepped up to run the farm until he was called to preach on a Methodist Circuit some 70 miles away. From this point, Blood Tavern became known as Widow Blood's Tavern.
We know from Dolly Beaumont that Mary Blood thought secret fraternities were "obnoxious" even though they provided her an income,
[... M]embers of the Masonic order [...] frequently held their meetings at the Blood tavern [sic]. [...] On one occasion when a meeting was in session, a candidate who was waiting in another room to be initiated [...] noticed that Mrs. Blood seemed rather conspicuously occupied with heating a poker in the fireplace. She seemed intent upon getting it red hot. At last, unable to restrain his curiosity, he asked the purpose of the red hot poker. 'Why, it's for the initiation,' she assured him, 'They always use a red hot poker. I don't know what for, but I suppose it's to brand the candidate.' The story goes that there was no initiation that night.
Doctor George B. Cash tells us that the Warden Boys of Newark wanted to use a neighbor's sleigh. The neighbor promised they could borrow on the Fourth of July. When this day came, the neighbor honored his commitment. The Warden Boys hitched up a team of horses and drove the sleigh to Widow Blood's Tavern and back to Newark after some drinking. The 30-mile round trip ruined the runners. Walter Castle adds more detail to Cash's tale,
[...] The Widow Blood's tavern [sic] seems to have been a popular resort for many gay young blades from Newark [...] They came out frequently for their parties which were usually both wild and reckless. One particularly exclusive set always made it a point to conclude their festivities by smashing to bits all the China and glassware used in their party. They always paid well for their fun.
[Author's Note: When Walter Castle wrote this snippet, 'gay' was a synonym for happy and did not imply anything more. The term 'blades' was synonymous with 'dashing young men.']
Blood arrived in Licking County in his mid-30s and died at the age of 59. Blood's Tavern became Widow Blood's Tavern and today is no more. All that remains is Blood Hill. But I did have the opportunity to enjoy a pit-roasted whole hog in the front yard of Widow Blood's Tavern.
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