Cornell--Randall--Bailey Roadhouse - Johnston RI
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nomadwillie
N 41° 50.007 W 071° 33.426
19T E 287668 N 4634446
The Cornell—Randall—Bailey Roadhouse (also known as the Log Gift and Curtain Shoppe) was built in the late 18th century by Samuel Steere, and was substantially enlarged for use as a tavern in 1821 by Daniel Cornell.
Waymark Code: WM12FVY
Location: Rhode Island, United States
Date Posted: 05/18/2020
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Originally built by Samuel Steere in 1798, it was a modest 2 1/2 story building. The property was sold to Daniel and Amy Conrnell in 1833. They enlarged the building to its present day size, converting it to a stagecoach stop and roaming house, know as "Cornell's Tavern Stand".
In the 1870's traffic diminished due to the railroads and the Turnpike was made a free road, the business was sold to Shang Bailey, who was a colorful character who once starred in P.T. Barnum's circus as the "Shanghai Giant". Shang converted the building into a bordello/gambling house. Shang paid corrupt police officials in order to sell liquor on Sunday. He also installed slot machines and provided entertainment for his patrons. In 1902 a trolley line was laid out along Hartford Pike between Providence and North Scituate, thereby making the roadhouse easily accessible to Providence patrons. Bailey's Roadhouse soon became well-known throughout southeast New England.
In 1905 Shang experienced a sudden religious conversion. He immediately proceeded to empty his whole stock of liquor into the road, smashed his slot machines with an axe, and permanently closed his tavern. Bailey began selling off portions of the property in 1906. After his death, the old tavern was converted for multi-family occupancy and passed through a number of ownerships until 1976, when it was remodeled into a gift shop by the present owners.
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The Cornell—Randall—Bailey Roadhouse (also known as the Log Gift and Curtain Shoppe) is an historic building located at 2737 Hartford Avenue (United States Route 6) in western Johnston, Rhode Island. The oldest portion of this 2-1/2 story wood frame structure was built in the late 18th century by Samuel Steere, and was substantially enlarged for use as a tavern in 1821 by Daniel Cornell. Business at the tavern declined when railroads rendered the highway less important, and the building was adapted for use as a bordello and gambling house in the early 20th century. In the 1970s it was converted for use as a gift shop.
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