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a brief history of the inn
1300 west strasburg road (route 162) • west chester pa 193828 • dinner wed - sun 5-10 pm
The Marshalton Inn and The Four Dogs Tavern have been in constant operation since 1814 in the town of Marshalton, just outside West Chester, PA.. In 1793, Joseph Woodward inherited a piece of land from his father and built the stone house destined to become the Marshalton Inn. Around this time came the completion of Strasburg Road, which was the only thoroughfare between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. This completion brought many travelers to town and proved a huge stepping stone in the success of the Inn and Tavern. The town was in need of another hotel so these travelers had a place to rest their heads and their horses.
In 1802, Abraham Martin bought the stone house and land from his father-in-law, Joseph Woodward. Eleven years and two thousand dollars later, the home was ready for overnight guests. However, it took the Inn another eight years to get the tavern license they needed to serve alcohol. After receiving the license, the tavern’s name became the Sign of the General Wayne Inn, in honor of the Revolutionary War hero. After Martin passed away in 1826, his son Abner took over the Inn and ran it successfully for another 13 years.
The Inn quickly became popular not only with the travelers, but with the locals as well. People would congregate at the tavern to talk, have a bite to eat or get a drink. Not only did the Inn serve as a hotel, restaurant, post office and merchandising post, but it also catered to parties, weddings and traveling showmen. Whiskey made from the distilled juice of molasses was the drink of choice because of the scarcity.
John Steele bought the Inn in 1867, which was then called the General Wayne Inn. Steele was a respected man and did his best to keep up with the tavern and upgrade the grounds as well. Under Steele, a southern wing was added, the grounds leveled and the front property was paved and curbed.
After Mr. Steele passed away, the Inn changed hands numerous times. Finally, after 24 owners and eight name changes, Tommy and Cathy Baldwin purchased the Inn and restored and renovated it. Exposing the oak floorboards, renovating the barroom and the addition of an industrial kitchen were just some of the improvements the Baldwin’s made to the Inn.
The Inn quickly became a prevalent presence in the area and people started coming back to dine and congregate at the Inn. Once again it was “the place to go” in town. The Baldwin’s sold the Inn to George Mershan in 1972 and Mershan picked up where the Baldwin’s left off. More improvements were made and the Inn was restored to look like it once did when it first opened. The upstairs room of the Inn was transformed into the Oyster Bar, providing live Jazz music and a lighter menu. During the summer months, outdoor concerts were performed on the patio and the Inn and Oyster Bar were booming. Because of the overwhelming success of the Oyster Bar, Mershan and partner Jack McFadden converted the Inn’s stable into a bar, The Oyster Bar.
The Inn and Bar were sold to the present owners in 1996. The Oyster Bar was renamed The Four Dogs Tavern. The owners have done everything they can to preserve and keep the Inn’s traditions alive. With the expansion of the outdoor patio and music entertainment on weekends, the Inn and Tavern has still remained the place to go...with locals and travelers alike.