GREENCASTLE-ANTRIM/MERCERSBURG – Much like their brethren in Chambersburg, Greencastle-Antrim Township and Mercersburg have paved a legacy of dining experiences that defined the times and provided thousands of visitors and residents with cherished memories over the years.
In part two of this three-part series looking back at the history of restaurants and diners of Franklin County, we will look at some of the oldest and most unique locations.
One the oldest and most popular dining spots in Mercersburg is the restaurant named after our country’s 15th President, James Buchanan. The building at 15 N. Main St. was founded in 1796, and was originally the childhood home of Buchanan, whose father had purchased the lot and built a home there. The home would later become a hotel known as the Hotel Mercer, named after the Revolutionary War General Hugh Mercer, who the town is also named after.
The Hotel Mercer changed ownership multiple times over the years and would eventually add the restaurant, which would become the location’s most popular attraction. In 1932, the Hotel Mercer was renamed the James Buchanan Hotel by C.W. McLaughlin, which is the name it still bears today. The restaurant offers a fine dining experience of traditional American cuisine like burgers and fries and elegant entrees like grilled salmon, steaks and crab cakes.
Much like the James Buchanan Restaurant, the John Allison Public House in Greencastle has a significant spot in the town’s history and offers up delicious meals. Opened in 1782 by Greencastle founder and Revolutionary War veteran John Allison, the tavern became a popular stop for travelers passing through Greencastle. Originally located at Moss Spring at the East Conococheague Congregation’s red meeting house before moving to Baltimore Street. The popular eatery is now located at 155 S. Antrim Way where visitors can enjoy good food and drinks as well as local entertainment.
Another restaurant with strong roots seeded deep in the history of Mercersburg is Stoner’s Mansion House Tavern. The building, which features early German and Georgian architecture, was built in the late 1700’s and has also served as a hotel located at 2 S. Main St. The menu features casual tavern fare sliders, French fries, chicken wings, pretzel bites and similar style foods. For those seeking more of a meal, directly across the street sits Stoner’s on the Square, a restaurant that features a more varied menu, but the same casual and historic atmosphere as the tavern.
When talking dining with locals of Greencastle-Antrim, the conversation is sure to include their “underground” dining history. Unique places like Roy Neady’s Restaurant, which used to sit on the corner of the square and was famous for its lunch menu of soups, sandwiches and pies.
Then there was the Franklin House Hotel cellar restaurant run by Jimmy Carpenter. Local business owner, Cletus Zimmerman, possibly had the most unique and macabre name for his establishment located at 29 Center Square, The Bucket of Blood. Despite its gruesome name, the eatery was a frequent stop for the lunch and dinner crowd who enjoyed the menu of soups and sandwiches.
The legacy of dining and entertainment is as strong today in Franklin County as it was back in the early years of the county. While some of the restaurants and diners mentioned are gone, there are modern places with new legacies to be built – places like Foot of the Mountain Restaurant, located at 14191 Buchanan Trail W. in Mercersburg, Lizzy’s in Greencastle-Antrim at 2753 Buchanan Trail W., The Homestyle Restaurant at 26 N. Antrim Way and the B Street 104 Restaurant and Pub at 104 E. Baltimore St.
If food is one of your passions and you are seeking out the best dining experience, then you would need to look no further than Mercersburg or Greencastle-Antrim to create those great memories.
