READING, MA — Parker Tavern held an open house on December 9 to celebrate both the holiday season and the 250^th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, often considered by historians as the kickoff to the American Revolution. Period holiday decorations adorned the downstairs rooms, thanks to the creative efforts of Reading Garden Club’s members. Visitors enjoyed inspiring yet natural displays of greenery, pineapples (the colonial symbol of hospitality), and various clove-studded fruits.

Visitors partook of punch, sweet cider, and cookies. However, this unlicensed Tavern was unable to offer grog and will strictly observe requests from area patriots by boycotting tea.

There was a display of broom corn – grown this year in the Tavern’s garden – and the process by which brooms could be made from it.

Parker Taven is owned by the Reading Antiquarian Society (RAS), not the Town of Reading, and is maintained and wholly supported by membership, contributions, and bequests. All donations are much appreciated and are fully tax deductible as the RAS is a 501c(3) organization.