Party Like It’s 1893 at Smith’s Barroom

Fun addition to the Sanford Historical Society’s fundraiser, Smith’s Barroom Challenge, Celery City pop-up celebrates Sanford’s “spirited” history

Snap those suspenders and bustle your dresses – for the month of April we’re stepping back in time to the late 1800s and exploring the history and role of alcohol in Sanford.

Smith’s Barroom Challenge Overview
The idea for Smith’s Barroom Challenge came after the discovery of a deed from 1893 showing that a Mr. John Smith sold his establishment, Smith’s Barroom, to a Mr. Robinson. The barroom was located at what is now the intersection of Commercial Street and Park Avenue. Included in the paperwork was an inventory list of every liquor, beer, wine and spirit sold there.

As a toast to Mr. Smith and his barroom, the Sanford Historical Society has asked local bars and restaurants to create their own concoctions using ingredients inspired by the inventory of Smith’s Barroom. And to ensure that Sanford’s history is preserved, 10% of the sales from each featured cocktail will go to the Sanford Historical Society which supports the research and preservation efforts of the Sanford Museum.

Visit participating businesses during the month of April to try their “old fashioned” cocktails.
Take a photo and tag #smithsbarroomchallenge (make sure your post is public) for your chance to win a great basket of prizes. (Include #drinksanford and #sanford365 in your posts as well so we can follow your journey!)

Brigitte Stephenson from Sanford Museum & Amber Babcock from the Sanford Historical Society

Participating establishments:

119 French, Bitters & Brass, Celery City Craft, Ellen’s Wine Room, Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Cafe, Luisa’s Cellar, Sanford Brewing Company, The Imperial, St. John’s River Steak & Seafood, The Breezeway, The District Tap & Barrel, The Old Jailhouse, Throwbacks, Tuffy’s Bottle Shop & Lounge, The Smiling Bison

Smith’s Barroom Pop-Up Experience

Additionally, Celery City Craft is paying homage to Mr. Smith with a Smith’s Barroom pop-up bar and menu of historically inspired drinks.

At the grand opening, bartenders in suspenders and bowties served us the Liquid Treuse Serum,

“a truthfully delicious combination of Bluecoat Gin, Yellow Chartreuse, fresh lemon juice, andhoney.” And we followed that with Washington’s Harbour, “a refreshing mix of Plantation Rum, Apple Brandy, Curacao, fresh lime juice, and ginger beer.” We also recommend trying the Chocolate Orange Smash with chocolate liqueur and cold brew coffee.

Lucky for us, we ran into Brigitte Stephenson, Sanford Museum Assistant, who offered insightful stories about Sanford during the time of the original Smith’s Barroom. There was an intense battle at the voting box of being wet or dry as a city at the time–twenty-plus years before Prohibition.

While you sip in your history, play a game of table top shuffleboard and scoop up a bag of buttered popcorn. 10% of all sales and 100% of all t-shirt sales will go to the Sanford Historical Society. Now that’s something we all can definitely toast to! Cheers to keeping history alive in Sanford!