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Weedville Hotel, Weedville, PA |
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Weedville Hotel, Weedville, PA |
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Weedville Hotel token, author's collection |
Est. 1904 OE - Building constructed: 1933?
Previous bars in this location: None known
Web site: facebook
Reviews: yelp - tripadvisor
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Weedville Hotel, Weedville, PA |
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Weedville Hotel, Weedville, PA |
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Weedville Hotel token, author's collection |
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Penn Brewery, Pittsburgh,PA |
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Former Lee Tuck Lounge Pittsburgh, PA |
Constructed by Christ Gundlefinger in 1891, the building some 2,000 feet south of the Ohio River has contained a saloon at least as early as 1892, and most of the time from that point to as recently as 2015, although you would never guess that from the ramshackle state of the building today.
Leona Tucker purchased the property in 1977, and ran what would become the longest running and last bar, and perhaps the last residents, to be hosted there during its 120 year history of serving drinks. (Leona passed away in 2003, and I do not know how long she ran the bar herself.) The property is currently for sale. At least in its latter years the bar featured black exotic dancers. It was the scene of another tragic death not long before it closed. On Oct 24, 2014 Ronnell Smith was shot and killed by Lonnie Monk and Anthony Jetter he was leaving the bar.
Christ Gundlefinger sought a liquor license even before his new building was finished, but it's not clear if he got one. In any case by the following year John Kalb ran the building, and with no other licensed house on the street in 1892, began operating a saloon on the main floor. From 1898 to 1910 he would be followed by saloon keepers Jacob Haule Jr., his wife Lena Haule briefly after Jacob passed away, a Mrs. H. Schinneller, and Leopold Von Hedemann. In October 1910 Hedemann transferred the liquor license to Herman J. Theil, whose long run as owner would last through prohibition and into the mid 1940s, and would tragically include the murder of his son John, killed in the bar during an attempted holdup.
After some 35+ years as the "H.J. Theil Cafe" and the "Herman Theil Tavern," the bar would be operated in the 1950s by Marie Schram as the "New Steuben Cafe" or "New Steuben Restaurant and Bar." In the 1970s it would be known as the West End Lounge, before fairly long run as the Lee Tuck Lounge, which it remained for almost 40 years.
Despite - and largely because of - its current state of disrepair, and due to its presence between two large, empty lots along our main route from our home to downtown Pittsburgh, I've probably passed this building a hundred times in the three years we've lived in the area - each time wondering about its history. Catching up with the parts of that history cited here only makes me wonder all the more about its stories from over the years.
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Lee Tuck Lounge flier - Sep 15, 2014 |
134 Steuben St, Pittsburgh, PA 15220
Est. 1977 - Building constructed: 1891
Previous bars in this location: Herman Theil Tavern, New Steuben Cafe, West End Lounge
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Shooting Star Saloon, Huntsville, UT |
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Shooting Star Saloon, Huntsville, UT |
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Medieval Tavern U Krale Brabantskeho Prague, Czech Republic |
'From 1375, when the tavern was first opened, kings and smugglers used to come here. It is said that Czech kings used secret passages from the castle to get into the tavern and get drunk to forget their problems about Czech lands. Magister Kelly and Arcimboldo, Jaroslav Hašek and Karel Čapek, Mozart and Ondřej Soukup all used to drink here.It is said that genius W.A. Mozart wanted to compose „Velkou Ranní" during his last visit in Prague. However from unknown reasons he ended up with „Malá Noční“.At the end of the 18th century, the owner of our tavern was some "regimentstambor" called Krügler - famous showman. He could whistle and use a wooden spoon like he was playing the drums. Or he was just telling stories to his guests.'
Third Eye Traveller adds:
The shows are not for me, so I made my way in the early afternoon, for the decor, atmosphere and some traditional Czech cuisine. The sources for the founding date and descriptions came from commercial sites and traveling sites, and I wish I'd come upon some more well founded and detailed descriptions of the history of the place from someplace like historic scholars or a university. But the decor and vibe definitely live up to the reputation, and show or no show, it would be among my highest recommendations for any visitor to Prague."The name comes from Duke John I of Brabant also known as Gambrinus who is the patron saint of brewers.There are legends that the kings of Bohemia like Wenceslas IV and Rudolf II used to come to drink here in secret with smugglers and thieves.Famous Czech figures would also haunt these halls like Italian painter Arcimboldo and the Czech writers Jaroslav Hašek and Karel Čapek."
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Old Tavern Inn, Niles, MI |
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Bay Horse Cafe, Cincinnati, OH |
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Pineville Tavern, Buckingham Township, PA |