111 Water Street, Tavern House

This house has been both a tavern and a home. Since the 1700’s, it has offered lodging for those traveling by foot, horse, carriage and auto. Innkeepers have included Alexander and Hanna Douglas, who operated the tavern and the ferry around 1793. Douglas was the first postmaster of Dorchester’s earliest post office. He and his business partner, John Smoot, built the first bridge across the Nanticoke located almost in front of the house. The bridge was eventually removed because sailing ships had trouble negotiating the draw. The carefully restored house is post and beam construction with six fireplaces, original wood work and colors.

Touart (D 156) enhanced the Federal entrance staircase and numerous mantels, doors, chair rail and baseboard common to the early 19th century.