Welcome to the CacheMore 2023 series! This cache was hidden as part of a friendly geocaching competition to encourage exploring the areas surrounding North Central WV, Southwest PA, and Western MD. To learn more and participate for yourself, please click HERE.
Season 1
Dry Tavern, PA was named for a tavern. The taverns were all along the road. At this one, you couldn’t drink, it was the one dry inn along a heavily-traveled path in eastern Greene County that took in weary settlers in the early 1800s. While this tavern didn’t serve alcohol two centuries ago there were taverns that did serve drinks. The tavern was located in the tiny village on the northeastern edge of Jefferson Township. While it seems obvious that there once was a tavern in town that didn’t serve alcohol to travelers, its exact location, name and when it was operating remains somewhat of a mystery. The building is described as a “large” tavern that didn’t serve liquor, nor did it have a bar. It was a prominent place because it was located on the main road leading south from Pittsburgh to Virginia and was widely traveled, the story explains about a path that could be considered modern day Route 88. Everyone who stopped over knew they could not get a drink of sprits. Most people traveling to the region in the late 18th century usually came by way of boat up the Monongahela River. Most likely, they would land on the western bank of the river in what is now Rices Landing. Dry Tavern was only a couple miles from Rices Landing. It probably was the first wagon stop. It was a tavern to rest up the horses and get them a meal. Then they would proceed onto the frontier of Dunkard Creek and to what would become Waynesburg. There were few roads from Morgantown to Pittsburgh. One of them took travelers through the heart of Dry Tavern. The road was not in place during the American Revolution, but travelers would be using it around the turn of the century heading into the 1800s.