"During the Civil War (1861-1865), two prestigious Union generals - William McKinley and Rutherford B. Hayes - made Foster's their headquarters, long before either man assumed the presidency. Ohio-born Hayes would go on to become the 19th U.S. president (1877-1881), followed by McKinley (a fellow Ohioan) as the 25th president (1897-1901)."
"During the Civil War, however, the two future presidents would have been imbibing and strategy-planning at a food and drink establishment called the "Davis Cottage." Foster's wouldn't open its doors as a tavern until 1986. From 1917 to 1985, the building was a beloved, small-scale hardware store run by owner J. G. "Red" Foster."
Foster's Main Street Tavern in Beckley, West Virginia occupies a building with over 150 years of history. During the Civil War, the structure served as Davis Cottage, where Union generals William McKinley and Rutherford B. Hayes held headquarters and conducted strategy sessions. Both generals later became U.S. presidents—Hayes as the 19th president (1877-1881) and McKinley as the 25th president (1897-1901). From 1917 to 1985, the building functioned as a hardware store owned by J.G. "Red" Foster. The tavern opened in 1986 and continues operating today, serving burgers, wings, nachos, and other bar fare to the local community.
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