Silver Spring’s Little Tavern #1, located at 8230 Georgia Avenue (@ Ripley Street), was constructed in 1935 and was one of the earliest surviving LTs in the Washington metro area. When then-owner Pyramid Atlantic failed to auction off the structure in 2003 on eBay (claiming it’s retention was only “Phase One” of their master plan…”Phase Two” called for the construction of a $4.75 million art center on the site to be dubbed SEMAT), LT’s high quality enameled panels and other architectural pieces were salvaged by the National Capital Trolley Museum for reconstruction at their facility in Colesville, MD (which also has failed to happen).

Pyramid Atlantic opposed listing that year of Little Tavern on Montgomery County’s Locational Atlas and Index of Historic Sites, which paved the way for demolition of the building.

Five years later Little Tavern’s footprint is marked by a gravel lot and the rest of the site is surface parking.

I thought about Little Tavern when I attended the Crafty Bastards event held at Pyramid Atlantic and thought how the presence of that wonderful building, with its neon signs restored, would have added to the overall quirkiness of the event.

In contrast the former LT at Wayne and Fenton was constructed in 1974 utilizing exterior materials of a far lower quality. While historic designation of this building would have been impossible, the Silver Spring Historical Society did suggest that it be incorporated into the new Silver Spring Library to be used as a children’s reading nook.

To read the story about the failed 1935 Little Tavern preservation attempt, please go to http://silverspringhistory.homestead.com/LittleTavern.html .

Thank you.

Editor’s note: Construction crews have been working on that project since the beginning of the year. It’s called the Portico, though I’m not sure if they’ll be condos or rentals. — JD (Jul 19, 2008)

Back 2 topic: I thought the owners __(I 4got their names) were fighting being demolished? There is still a lil tavern/golden house @ 8100 wisc ave in bethesda, but all remnants of it being a lil taven have been covered by current owners Golden House.

PS: When i was on 2nd street I saw a new bldg being built behind McDonalds on what used 2 be a parking lot. When did that happen?

It’s unclear when the wrecking ball did its business, but the site was level on Thursday evening.

Does anyone have a better idea when this building bit the dust?