At this moment the Town of Weston, the Weston Historical Society and Historic New England’s backs are up against a wall. They are forced to find a 
way for the Josiah Smith Tavern and its neighbor the Old Library to survive. These buildings at the heart of our town center need a life and a purpose. They need to grow up and support themselves or they will quietly fall apart, clapboard by clapboard and brick by brick.
On Sunday, May 3 from 5 to 7 p.m., the Josiah Smith Tavern and Old Library Committee will host an open house called “Taste of the Tavern” complete with refreshments, charts, maps, parking studies, and people to explain them, in the Josiah Smith Tavern’s Barn. Everyone is invited. All members of the committee will be on hand to answer your questions – no question is too insignificant.
Our Josiah Smith Tavern, built in 1757, was a tavern for townspeople and weary travelers until it was sold in 1838. After several more owners, the Jones sisters deeded the tavern to SPNEA, now Historic New England, in 1950. Historic New England sold it back to the town in 1983 but retained the right to administer deed restrictions, in other words control over the historical accountability of future renovations.
Committee members, made official in 2003, have been investigating every possible way to breathe life into these buildings, from apartments to art studios. The committee’s most surprising and viable plan turns out to be turning the tavern back into a tavern.
The plan: An experienced restauranteur would lease the building, run a profitable inexpensive good restaurant, and pay the bills. Renovations would be paid for by Community Preservation Act funds. The Old Library next door is designated to house the Weston Historical Society and Town Archives, as well as the Women’s Community League, all very important to the community. The buildings could then live and thrive.
In order for this project to go forward, the town needs to vote on a liquor license – for the tavern building only. The vote is May 9 in the Town Hall.
The Boston Globe ran an article in early April called “‘Walkability’ growing as a real estate plus,” indicating that having a restaurant in the center of a town adds to the property values of that town. Weston is a “walkable town,” a restaurant in the center would encourage people to gather on a social, informal level, it would bring business to Land Sake’s and town vendors, and it would bring with it a lively sense of community.
Come to “Taste of the Tavern” on Sunday, May 3, ask questions, make up your own mind, and vote on Saturday, May 9.
