#5931 - Saisaki Asian Fusion, Frederick, MD - 10/5/2024

Saisaki Asion Fusion, Frederick, MD
Historic location of Hagan's Tavern

As the name says this is an Asian fusion (mostly Japanese and Thai) restaurant/bar with hibachi style cooking by May Talabkaew and family, who ran the Yatai Hibachi food truck in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia for a few years before this. The food was quite good and the owners and staff were great. So while I would not hesitate to recommend it for those reasons, I must admit that my primary interest in the place was the old historic tavern building where it opened in 2024.

The structure, along the old National Road, was built in the late 18th century - many references say in 1875, but I tend to put most faith in the architectural survey created for the Maryland Historical Trust, which says perhaps as early as 1790, likely already a tavern at that time, and purchased by John Hagan in 1830.  It remained in the Hagan family for many years, and while it would serve under several different names over the decades, it was actually renamed Hagan Tavern as recently as 2009. It was informally known for many of these years as the "Old White House."

For a few details I'll turn to the real estate listing and again to the architectural survey. Standard caveats apply to claims of hosting George Washington et. al., though the location and historical description would seem to make it a good candidate.

From a real estate brochure:

"The main structure was built around 1785 to serve as a public house for travelers on the Olde National Pike, which at the time was the main thoroughfare between Baltimore and Cumberland and the gateway to the western frontier. Hagan’s was one of many taverns on the pike, but kept a reputation for having the best food, thereby attracting gentry as well as drovers.

Hagans’ guest list has included George Washington, John C. Calhoun, Andrew Johnson as well as Henry Clay. Through the years, Hagan’s Tavern has served varied roles: private home, resort, restaurant, tavern, inn, and — for a period in the 1930’s — a speakeasy. Hagan’s Tavern has also served as headquarters for soldiers and officers from both armies during the Civil War.

Original wall murals adorn the walls of some of the dining areas which depict glimpses of the styles of Moses Eaton and Rufus Porter, as well as the Zuber School of 18th century wall covering. Created by

local artist Virginia Jacobs McLaughlin, this unique display of artwork is only one of the many details of Hagan’s Tavern that creates a romantic atmosphere for its guests."

From an architectural survey for the Maryland Historical Trust:

"It was built possibly as early as 1790, pre-dating the National Road built through the area in about 1807. It was purchased about 1830 by John Hagan, who was the proprietor of the tavern through much of the mid and late 19th century. During the early 20th century, it continued to serve as a restaurant and bar with a rather notorious reputation for rough clientele. later in the 20th century, the building was an antique shop."

"The tavern has field stone walls which were covered with stucco during much of the 19th and early 20th centuries and painted white, a typical technique of drawing travelers' attention to inns, taverns, and toll houses along the National Road."

"The house may have been built as early as 1790 and is thought to have been a tavern operated by James Nixdorf. Architectural features of the tavern suggest conflicts with documentary evidence and oral tradition regarding dates, leaving open the possibility of construction between 1820-1830. By the 1830's, it was owned by John Hagan. His father Peter Hagan was described in Searight's 'The Old Pike: A History of the National Road (1894) as having a log tavern on the south side of the Pike near the stone Wilding's location which was famed among wagoners on the road.

The current owner of Hagan's Tavern [property], Mr. Mark McConnell, believes that the stone house may have operated concurrently with the log structure, eventually superceding it altogether. Research by Ann Lelilerz in the Frederick County Historical Society revealed that the tavern was still a well-known drinking place during the Civil War and was "patronized" by both Confederate and Union troops in their passages through Frederick County. With the advent of the automobile, the tavern continued to operate and had a notorious reputation during the early 20th century for its rough clientele. Memories of its use during the 1920's and early 1930's suggest it was known as a speakeasy as well as a legitimate restaurant. I.ater, it was used as an antique store. Mr. McConnell has information regarding several outbuildings which no longer exist, including stables, a summer kitchen, and a bank barn.'

5018 Old National Pike, Frederick, MD 21702 - (240) 490-8007
Est. 2024 - Building constructed: 1790?
Previous bars in this location: Nixdorf's Tavern, Hagan's Tavern, Silver Maple Inn
Web site: saisakifrederick.com - facebook - facebook (hagans) 
Articles & Reviews: yelp - fredericknewspost - mountolivethistory (Hagan family history)