Roads, Rails, and Trails - Secretary of the Commonwealth

THE SAMPSON’S TAVERN SITE, LAKEVILLE
The area where Massachusetts Routes 18 and
105 meet in Lakeville is among the most scenic places in the
Commonwealth. Our largest natural lake—Assawompsett
Pond—is here, as are three other large ponds: Long Pond,
Pocksha Pond, and Great Quittacas Pond. These offer acres of
open water. Since Assawompsett Pond is also a municipal
water supply; its protected shoreline is surrounded by
unspoiled marshes and forests. The area also has fields and
farms, and is a favorite with anglers, birdwatchers, and
sightseers of all kinds.
Lakeville, Massachusetts
At the northwest corner of Assawompsett Pond the two
roads meet and travel as one along the pond’s scenic shore
before dividing again. For many years there was a tavern
here—known as Sampson’s Tavern—which catered to the
region's visitors. By the late twentieth century there was only
dense brush and woods alongside the road. But since portions
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of the roads were not safe, the Massachusetts Department of
Transportation planned a realignment project. They needed an
archaeological study to find out whether traces of the old
tavern remained in areas that would be needed for the new
roadway. From 1992 to 1994 archaeologists from University of
Massachusetts Archaeological Services studied the history and
archaeology of what became known as the Sampson’s Tavern
site, documenting nearly two centuries of changing ownership,
activities, buildings, and landscapes here.
In the 1890s Sampson’s Tavern was an impressive building
that could seat up to 100 customers.
It wasn’t just the scenic lakes that made this spot
suitable for a tavern; it was the roads. The road that ran past the
tavern was a main route between Boston and New Bedford,
ensuring a steady supply of hungry and thirsty travelers. A
tavern was in operation here by the mid 1700s; it was named