Black Tavern

The Black Tavern is an historic tavern at 138-142 Dudley Center Road in Dudley, Massachusetts. The main block of the tavern was built c. 1803, and was extended by an ell to the rear in 1810 and another to the left side in 1835. The building is typically Federal in its styling, with a Doric porch running across its front that was added c. 1890. Dudley was about halfway between Boston and Hartford, Connecticut, and was a major stopping point on the stagecoach route. The building was given its name after its builder and owner, Hezekiah Healy, decided to paint it black, reasoning that that color required less maintenance.In the 20th century the building was used by nearby Nichols College as a dormitory until 1980, after which it was given to the Black Tavern Society, a local nonprofit established to preserve the structure.The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. In 2010 the listing was expanded to include the adjacent barn and annex, which the Society acquired in 2000.