County's First Historic Sign Placed At Sycamore Tavern

Hanover County has unveiled its first County Historic Sign developed under its Historic Marker and Plaque Program. The historic sign is at Sycamore Tavern in Montpelier.

Hanover County has unveiled its first County Historic Sign developed under its Historic Marker and Plaque Program. The historic sign is at Sycamore Tavern in Montpelier.

The program was developed by the Hanover Historical Commission and adopted by the Board of Supervisors last year. It enables historic sites that do not qualify for the State’s historical marker program to apply for a Hanover County Historic Sign. Each request must be approved by the Hanover Historical Commission.

Believed to have been built in the mid-1700’s, Sycamore Tavern was the fourth stagecoach stop on the Old Mountain Road (now known as U.S. Rt. 33) from Charlottesville to Richmond and it was there that horses were changed on the first stage of the journey. It was named for the sycamore trees that stood at the site for many years.

Sycamore Tavern has housed the Page Library of History and Genealogy since the early years of the last century, when Thomas Nelson Page founded the library in memory of his wife. For a time it was part of the now-closed Montpelier High School (which is now the Montpelier Center and Arts and Education). Sycamore Tavern is listed on both the National and State Registers of Historic Places.

Hanover County’s Historic Roadside Marker Program commemorates persons, events and places prominently identified with the history of the County. In order to be so commemorated, a person, place or event must have attained significance at least 50 years ago. Markers shall not commemorate a living person. All texts must be reviewed, edited and approved by the Historical Commission.

All applications for Hanover County Historic markers should be sent to the Historical Commission care of the Hanover Planning Department. All markers and plaques must be paid for by the property owners or sponsors. Installation is done by the Hanover Department of Public Works with a limit of two markers per year.

For more information, call Claudia Cheely in the Hanover County Planning Department, 804-365-6171.