Foster's Tavern

Foster's Tavern is a historic building in upcountry Spartanburg County, South Carolina, at 191 Cedar Springs Road near the historic intersection of the Pickneyville and Georgia roads, now associated with South Carolina Highways 56 and 295. Although its name identifies it as a tavern, the property is primarily recognized today as an architectural and cultural landmark rather than as an operating hospitality brand. It is regarded as one of the region's most important surviving early buildings and is believed to be the oldest brick house in Spartanburg County. Construction began in 1801 under Anthony Foster and took at least seven years to complete. The building reflects the resources and craftsmanship available in the early nineteenth-century South Carolina upcountry. Its locally made brick walls are complemented by tied chimneys at the ends of the gabled roof, hand-carved interior woodwork, bowed mantels, decorative stair scrollwork, blown-glass windowpanes, soapstone hearths, cattle-hair plaster, and surviving hardware associated with the original shutters. These elements make the property significant not only as a former roadside establishment but also as a rare example of early domestic and public architecture in the area. The tavern occupied a strategically useful position along historic overland routes. Accounts associate the building with travelers moving through the upcountry, including John C. Calhoun and Bishop Francis Asbury. A second-floor southeast room became known as the John C. Calhoun Room, and tradition holds that ordinary guests vacated it whenever Calhoun was expected to stay there. Such associations have helped preserve the building's identity as a place connected to regional travel, political history, and religious itinerancy. The property changed over time while retaining its principal early fabric. A portico with a fanlight was added in 1845, and porches were added around 1915. These later alterations became part of the building's accumulated architectural history rather than replacing its original character. Foster's Tavern was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 18, 1970. By May 2010, it was reported to be privately owned. Publicly available reference material does not establish that it operates today as a commercial tavern, nor does it identify a corporate owner, formal product range, or current visitor program. Its enduring significance lies in the preservation of the structure, its craftsmanship, and its connections to early South Carolina travel and public life.

Foster's Tavern was built in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, during the early nineteenth century. Anthony Foster began construction in 1801, and the work continued for seven years or longer. The resulting structure was made from locally manufactured brick and served a setting associated with historic roads linking communities in the South Carolina upcountry. Its location at the intersection of the old Pickneyville and Georgia roads helped make it suitable for travelers and contributed to its identity as a tavern and roadside stopping place. The building's construction and surviving details provide evidence of early regional building practice. It has tied chimneys at either end of a gable roof, with the chimney masses joined visually by the building's wall or facade. Interior features include hand-carved woodwork, bowed mantels, stair scrollwork, blown-glass windowpanes, soapstone hearths, cattle-hair plaster, and original shutter pintles. Together, these features distinguish the property from later houses and demonstrate the level of craftsmanship used in a substantial early upcountry building. Foster's Tavern also developed a historical reputation through its reported association with prominent travelers. John C. Calhoun and Bishop Asbury are said to have stayed at the property while traveling through the region. A southeast second-floor room became known as the John C. Calhoun Room. Local tradition further relates that guests occupying the room were required to leave whenever Calhoun arrived, illustrating the social importance attached to the tavern's connection with a nationally prominent political figure. The structure was modified in later periods. A portico incorporating a fanlight was added in 1845, while the porches appear to date from approximately 1915. These additions document the building's continued use and adaptation across generations. Despite the changes, its early brick construction and interior features remained sufficiently intact to support historic recognition. Foster's Tavern was entered on the National Register of Historic Places on December 18, 1970. The listing recognized the property as an important historic resource in Spartanburg County and reinforced its reputation as a rare surviving early brick building. Reference material from 2010 described the property as privately owned. Available sources do not document a current operating tavern business, a formal preservation organization, or a contemporary commercial offering. The site's present identity is therefore best understood as that of a privately held historic landmark, with significance grounded in architecture, transportation history, and associations with early South Carolina public life.

• 2010

  Private ownership reported

  [1]Foster's Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  Reference material reported that the property was privately owned as of May 2010.

• 1970

  National Register listing

  [1]Foster's Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  Foster's Tavern was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 18, 1970.

• 1915

  Porches added

  [1]Foster's Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  Porches were added to the building around this time, becoming part of its later architectural history.

• 1845

  Portico added

  [1]Foster's Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  A portico with a fanlight was added to the historic structure.

• 1808

  Main construction completed

  [1]Foster's Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  The building was completed after a construction period lasting seven years or more.

• 1801

  Construction begins

  [1]Foster's Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  Anthony Foster began construction of the brick building that became known as Foster's Tavern in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.

A preserved historic landmark representing early nineteenth-century architecture, travel, and hospitality in South Carolina's upcountry.

1. 1Foster's Tavernen.wikipedia.org