Shiels Tavern Building

The Shiels Tavern building at 117 N Washington Street dates to 1878, making it one of the oldest commercial structures in Hubbardston. The tavern has held a continuous liquor license since 1933 — the year Michigan began its modern licensing system after the repeal of Prohibition — earning it the distinction of being Michigan's oldest continuously licensed bar under the same name. The original bar and back bar are still in use, offering patrons a genuine connection to 19th-century Hubbardston. The building serves as the endpoint of the World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade, where a bagpiper performs to close the festivities. Currently owned by Barbara A. Blanchard since 2010, the tavern continues to serve as an informal community gathering place in the Irish pub tradition. The building is a living piece of Michigan's commercial and social history.