Tolleson's Tavern
Major John Tolleson was the first
European settler in the area that was to eventually be
known as Pacolet Station.
In 1784, he was given a Royal grant for land in what is
now Pacolet. He was also given a license to operate a
tavern and sell alcoholic beverages. He built a log
structure that lasted for over a hundred years. The
building was in the general vicinity where Jerusalem
Church Road ( State Rd. S-42-572) intersects with Main St.
(State Rd. S-42-227) in Pacolet Station. At that time, the
Jerusalem Church Road was known as the Grindal Shoals Road and
was one of the few roads in the Up Country. This tavern
was one of the first commercial establishments in the
area.
Mills Atlas of 1824 shows this tavern as being located on
what was known then as Tolleson
Road. This was the stagecoach road that ran between
Spartanburg and Columbia. Evidently, Tolleson was
responsible for maintaining his part of the road. Main
Street of Pacolet Station is on the route of the
stagecoach road. Tolleson also opened a store near the
tavern. Tolleson died around 1820 at about 90 years old.
According to old accounts, the area around the tavern and
the store was first known by the name of Buzzard’s Roost
because of the extensive amount of cockfighting that took
place there. The little community also acquired a
reputation for horse racing, fighting and drinking.
This web site has
been started as a public service to share the story of
Pacolet.
See more information about my Pacolet connection at Gerald Teaster.