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| The present brick building has evolved over
the years on at least four stages. The first two sections were three
stories and believed to have been built between the years 1875 and 1880.
The last two stages were two stories high and would have been three, except
most of the construction crew left Easton on Friday April 1, 1898 to join
Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Rider Unit during the Spanish American War;
they were never heard from again. From 1899 through 1934, the building
served primarily as a clothing store, an auto dealership, and, during the
last years of prohibition, a speakeasy operated by a sneaky town merchant
by the name of Chisolm Hurt. From 1934 until the present time, the
building has been in the R. Fox family serving primarily as a clothing
store. In October, 1987, a group of small time investors pooled their meager resources to return the building to its original noble purpose: to offer high quality dining and drinking combined with efficient and courteous service. These investors spared little imagination and have also disbursed a few bucks to make the Pub an interesting place where you can spend your time and money and look and act important. They note with pride that the building’s ”cornice is extremely elaborate and may be the best example of ornate brickwork in Easton.” Or at least it was before the restoration efforts began. The original hardwood floors have been restored to their former splendor, and the old tin ceiling has been tastefully incorporated into the overall decorative theme of wood, brass, and brick. Additionally, original showcases from Lomax’s Jewelry Store have been incorporated into the functional décor. The Pub features the only raw bar in Easton as well as a 50 foot bar which draws its beer through refrigerated lines from a cooler located directly below the bar. Thus guaranteeing the coldest draft in town. Patrons also can’t help but notice the stunning brass chandelier in the foyer, “It would have been bigger, if we hadn’t run out of money,” said Cartel President, Ron Fox. The Washington Street Pub Cartel virtually spared no expense, tastefully blending the old and the modern, in an effort to provide their friends with a unique setting where they can relax and enjoy excellent food, drink and company. In April of 1997, the Cartel, growing tired and old (very old), decided to relieve themselves of The Pub and roped a couple of renegades from the Western Shore into taking it off of their hands. The two "restaurateurs", trying to prove to their parents that juvenile delinquents can mature, arrived and immediately took the town by storm. To this day their parents remain skeptical. Keeping the decor the same, they simply added a new flair to the already great menu. Proving that once again, some things that are great can still be improved. Having survived five years, the duo decided to add to their empire in 2002 by acquiring Schooner's Landing on the waterfront in Oxford! Check it out on your next trip down Oxford Road. Life just gets better, don't it? |