Ever since I opened my copy of Julia Robert’s In Mixed Company, a history of the taverns of Upper Canada from the 1780s to the 1850s, I have wondered how many of our Upper Canadian pioneer taverns there might be left out there. Well, I passed one today – the Fryfogel Tavern – and thought I would get out of the car and have a look around.
Fryfogel’s Tavern, more graciously called an inn on the official road side sign, has sat by the road between Kitchener and Goderich for 166 years, though it has not apparently acted as a tavern for most of that time. You will recall from last summer’s posts on Ontario’s history that the land to the west of Lake Ontario starts opening up and breweries start opening up in the 1820s and 30s. The Canada Company’s plan of settlement of the area is discussed here and the way of life at the time of 1830s settlement of the district can be found in this letter from an original settler, John Stewart. Each source mentions Mr Fryfogle or Fryfogel when his tavern was a log cabin. Roberts indicates that the later 1840s form of the tavern is in the Georgian style and that this was the template for taverns for much of the pre-Confederation period:
The Georgian style worked well to project an image of prosperity and comfort, particularly in the practical sense that it enabled different activities to go on in the house at the same time.
Owned by the county’s historical foundation, it well kept but something of a shame that it is not in use though that seems to be in the plans. Next to it to the west sits the site of the 1828 cabin that preceded it as the home of the family. To the east runs Tavern Brook. The original owners are buried across the road.
Brad Goddard – January 3, 2011 7:53 PM
Great Tavern I have passed by many many times heading home to Lucan, Ontario. I would be awesome to have pints pulled there–I’ll cross my fingers.
Craig – January 3, 2011 9:56 PM
That’s really cool, what an amazing old building… However Julia Robert’s needs to use an middle initial. I was waaaay confused when I started reading.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved Eat, Pray, Love.
Wait, I didn’t see that one. It didn’t pass my “automatic weapons fire” criteria.
Alan – January 3, 2011 10:32 PM
High on the neato is that it still sits in the country surrounded by fields farmed by guys who are likely great-great-great-great-great-grandchildren of guys who drank in that tavern.
Pamela Stanley – January 4, 2011 1:50 PM
Last August (2010), TriCounty(Huron,Perth, Middlesex) Museum Association met at Fryfogel Inn. All of us Heritage folks are very keen to save it from potential road widening effects, and keep open for tours as it is by local historical supporters now. Great story pamphlet at Perth County Historical Foundation (Stratford). Please support all Ontario museums. Thanks.
Matt Fryfogel – June 22, 2012 3:53 AM
Was there a few weeks ago. Was pretty diss appointed in the condition of the inside.
Warren Stauch – October 7, 2013 11:58 AM
Hello there,
I just read Alan’s entry about Fryfogel’s Inn on highway 7-8, the original Huron Road (1828-1831) and thought some of you might be interested in hearing Dr. Julia Roberts, University of Waterloo history professor, when she will be the guest speaker at a fundraising dinner being sponsored by the Friends of the Waterloo Region Museum on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at Angie’s Country Kitchen, a former 1800s stagecoach stop 1761 Erb Street West in St. Agatha, west of Waterloo. Julia will talk about early inns in Upper Canada and would be glad to sign your copy of In Mixed Company: Taverns and Public Life in Upper Canada. You can get more information by going on the Waterloo Region Museum website http://www.waterlooregionmuseum.com or phone 519-748-1914 to order tickets which are $100 each (a tax receipt for a portion of the ticket will be issued). It promises to be a fun evening.