The William Pitt Tavern

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

The history of the William Pitt Tavern is one of the more interesting stories in New England Freemasonry. It was erected by a Portsmouth Freemason named John Stavers. He was made a Master Mason on June 5, 1764 in St. John´s Lodge of Portsmouth. The Lodge met in a tavern he operated called the Earl of Halifax, which was then located on State Street. In 1766, he purchased the land on the corner of Atkinson and Court streets and erected a three and a half story building out of native pine, hemlock, and various hardwoods. In order to provide for a large open meeting room on the third floor, he exchanged the then traditional center chimney for chimneys at each end of the building. At its completion, Bro. Stavers rented the meeting rooms to the Lodges then meeting in Portsmouth. He operated the Tavern until his death in 1797.

By 1789, the city of Portsmouth was the largest and most prestigious city in New Hampshire, and twelfth in size in the United States. That year, General and Freemason Bro. George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States, the first U.S. congress was convened in New York City, the judicial system was created, and the Bill of Rights was sent out for ratification by the states. With all of this happening, it was a fitting year for the formation of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire.

On July 8, 1789, deputies from two New Hampshire Lodges met on the third floor of the tavern and agreed upon the creation of the Grand Lodge, and elected its officers. Soon thereafter on July 16, the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire had its first meeting in the Lodge room with the Most Worshipful Grand Master Elect John Sullivan presiding. After disposing of some legalities surrounding his election, he was installed as the first Grand Master of New Hampshire on April 8, 1790. Until the summer of 1792, both Grand Lodge and St. John´s Lodge used the William Pitt Tavern as a meeting place.

The Tavern enjoyed a period of prosperity until the death of Bro. Stavers at the age of 83. His property, including the Tavern, was divided and parcelled out to his heirs. It survived several close calls from fires and was eventually turned into living quarters for local factory and dockworkers. The proud old Tavern was altered through the addition of partitions, windows, and stairways to accomodate the new tenants, eventually turning it into an aged but sturdy rooming house.

The neighborhood slowly degenerated and a junkyard appeared in close proximity to the building. The future of the Tavern seemed dim until July 8, 1939 when a delegation of Grand Lodge officers, by special permission of the new owners, held a Grand Lodge meeting on the third floor to commemorate the 150^th anniversary of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire.  A bronze plaque was affixed to the interior of the building to signify that this was indeed the birthplace of the Grand Lodge.

By the latter half of the 20th Century, the building was acquired by the directors of Strawbery Banke, and was looked upon as a valuable relic of the past, recognized for its importance in the development of Portsmouth. It was decided to restore the old Tavern to its earlier state. In 1983, Most Worshipful Grand Master John C. Marden announced that sufficient funds had been raised by Grand Lodge to effect its restoration and work began in earnest. In 1987, after much research and painstaking restoration work, the Tavern was rededicated by Grand Master Paul N. Ricker. It is now an integral part of Strawbery Banke, and under the protective care of the directors of Strawbery Banke Museum, is available for tours and use as a Lodge room. Every year around the 4th of July, New Hampshire Freemasons, their families, and friends can gain admission to Strawbery Banke and the William Pitt Tavern free of charge by presenting a valid Masonic dues card.

The Lodge Room is in constant use by Grand Lodge and Blue Lodges for meetings and degree work.  If any Masonic body wishes to use these facilities they may contact Bro. Roger Clark at (603) 772-6298 for further information.