Taggart Bakery & Restaurant (1888-1930) and Beyond

In 1888, John Allen Taggart and Lena Taggart started their bakery/restaurant at 15 West Main Street in downtown Mooresville.  In 1896 they replaced their wood-frame structure with a two-story brick building that still stands today.  Our video below summarizes the history of restaurants that served the public at this location for well over half a century.

Taggart Bakery (Mooresville Moments #24)

by Mooresville Public Library

We had some leftover images that didn't make the cut for the video, which we'd like to share here.  This 1919 photo (below) shows Lena Taggart with her brother-in-law and his wife, Joseph and Florence Taggart, who lived in Pasadena, California, according to the 1920 U.S. Census.  The front and back of the photo are shown below.  (Click images to enlarge.)

The enlarged portion of J. A. Taggart's obituary appeared in the video, but here's the part of the front page in which the article appeared.

Mooresville Times, January 3, 1908

John Allen Taggart's headstone at

Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis

At the turn of the 20th century, John and Lena Taggart lived in a fine home on the northeast corner of the intersection of North Monroe Street and West Morgan Street, across from the Academy School (which added, in 1909, Mooresville High School; in 1921, the high school gymnasium; and, in 1937, Newby Memorial Elementary School).  Four decades later, this home was owned by Butch Brown's parents, who operated Brown's Rexall Drugstore at 13 East Main Street in downtown Mooresville.

Here's a summary of owners of Taggarts' Bakery/Restaurant over the years:

Under the name Taggarts' Bakery and Restaurant

• 1888-1907:  John A. & Lena Taggart
• 1907-1913:  Lena Taggart
• 1913-1918:  Ross C. "Dinty" Moore
• 1918-1928:  Frank Hadley & Pete Culbertson
• 1928-1930:  William Tincher

Under the name "Dinty" Moore's Cafe:

• 1930-1936:  Ross C. "Dinty" Moore

Under the name Hadley Restaurant:

• 1936-1944:  Frank Hadley

Under the name Head Inn Restaurant:

• 1944-circa 1950:  Mr. & Mrs. Clayr (?) Ward

Under the name Taylor's Restaurant:

• Circa 1950-circa 1959

Under the name Clark's Restaurant"

• Circa 1959-circa 1966

During the 1990s and 2000s, I recall that Pat's Tavern was located in the Taggart building at 15 West Main Street.  Since 2016, it has been the site of Bran N Shorts Coffee House.

Mooresville-Decatur Times, January 30, 2016