Parker Tavern

Infobox_nrhp | name =Parker Tavern
nrhp_type =


caption =
location= Reading, Massachusetts
lat_degrees = 42
lat_minutes = 31
lat_seconds = 12
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 71
long_minutes = 6
long_seconds = 25
long_direction = W
locmapin = Massachusetts
area =
built =1694
architect= Unknown
architecture= Colonial, Other
added = August 19, 1975
governing_body = Private
mpsub=Reading MRA (AD)
refnum=75000286cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

Parker Tavern is a historic house at 103 Washington Street in Reading, Massachusetts and is the oldest extant structure in Reading. [ [http://parkertavern.org/History.htm Parker Tavern Site] ]

The saltbox tavern was built in 1694 by Abraham Bryant, a farmer and blacksmith. During the American Revolution, Ephraim Parker acquired the house and operated a tavern on the premises. Parker allowed Scottish prisoners of war to be housed in the tavern. The town of Reading acquired the building in 1914. In 1923 Reading Antiquarian Society purchased the building from the town for a nominal price and has maintained and operated the museum without public funding. The building added to the National Historic Register in 1975. It is currently operated by the Reading Antiquarian Society. [ [http://parkertavern.org/History.htm Parker Tavern Site] ] cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

References