National Register of Historic Places

Madden's Tavern

Lignum, Culpeper County, Virginia
Listed
August 15, 1984
Type
Building
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
84003526

About this property

A rare occurrence in antebellum Virginia, Madden's Tavern once functioned as a prime example of black entrepreneurship. The building was completed in 1840, and was run by a free black man named Willis Madden. Before running his own business, Madden worked a variety of trades, including a blacksmith, distiller, cobbler, teamster, farm laborer, and nail maker. Using the money and experience earned from these jobs, Madden was able to buy eighty-seven acres in Culpeper County, and set up his business at the crossroads of Old Fredericksburg Road and Peola-Mills-Kellysville Road. The business included a four-room main building, a general store, a blacksmith wheelwright shop, and several other outbuildings and shed. The western half of the tavern contained the family living quarters, and the eastern portion consisted of a downstairs public room and a loft for overnight guests. The railroad developments of the 1850s hit Madden's enterprise hard, giving the business little time to recover before it suffered extensive damage during the Civil War. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Location

Lignum, Culpeper County, Virginia
38.43256, -77.82090

Categories

COMMERCETRANSPORTATIONBLACK
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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The Land
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Nearby Historic Sites

Salubria
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3.5 mi
Sumerduck Historic District
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Eckington School
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Graffiti House
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Greenville
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Nearby Battles

Engagement at Kelly's Ford (Second)
1863Civil War
2.2 mi
Battle of Kelly's Ford
1863Civil War
2.2 mi
Battle of Rappahannock Station
1863Civil War
2.8 mi
Battle of Morton's Ford
1864Civil War
2.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Madden's Tavern listed on the National Register?

Madden's Tavern was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 15, 1984.

What type of historic resource is Madden's Tavern?

Madden's Tavern is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Madden's Tavern?

The period of significance for Madden's Tavern is recorded as the early_republic era.

Can I research the history near Madden's Tavern?

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