Josephine Tavenner and her husband, Clyde 'Jake'
Tavenner, ran several restaurants, including Olney's Silo Inn.
(Family Photo)
Tavenner, ran several restaurants, including Olney's Silo Inn.
(Family Photo)
Monday, July 21, 2008
| Josephine O'Brien Tavenner |
Josephine O'Brien Tavenner, 85, an Olney restaurateur whose
establishments included the Silo Inn, died July 13 of complications
associated with congestive heart failure at Montgomery General Hospital.
Mrs. Tavenner, known as 'Mama Jo', owned and operated a number of
suburban Maryland restaurants with her husband, Clyde 'Jake' Tavenner.
The Silo Inn, which the Tavenners operated from 1964 to 1997, was the
best known.
establishments included the Silo Inn, died July 13 of complications
associated with congestive heart failure at Montgomery General Hospital.
Mrs. Tavenner, known as 'Mama Jo', owned and operated a number of
suburban Maryland restaurants with her husband, Clyde 'Jake' Tavenner.
The Silo Inn, which the Tavenners operated from 1964 to 1997, was the
best known.
A converted roadhouse on Georgia Avenue, the restaurant was a landmark in upper Montgomery County. Washington Post restaurant critic
Eve Zibart, writing in 1988, described it as one of a number of "family-style relics in the upper Montgomery County environs; driving up
there is like taking a '50s-style family vacation in the car, looking for the restaurants with plaster fawns in the front yard and a discreet
COLD DRAUGHT sign in the window. The Silo Inn was a neighborhood Sunday supper spot back when the only 'neighborhood' to speak
of was Leisure World."
Eve Zibart, writing in 1988, described it as one of a number of "family-style relics in the upper Montgomery County environs; driving up
there is like taking a '50s-style family vacation in the car, looking for the restaurants with plaster fawns in the front yard and a discreet
COLD DRAUGHT sign in the window. The Silo Inn was a neighborhood Sunday supper spot back when the only 'neighborhood' to speak
of was Leisure World."
The Tavenners' son, Tommy Tavenner, recalled that the Silo Inn attracted a diverse clientele -- old, young and in-between -- and featured
live entertainment Friday and Saturday nights. Sunday, he said, was the restaurant's best day of the week. Customers had a choice of four
dinner items: fried shrimp, a steak platter, a ham platter or the restaurant's renowned fried chicken.
live entertainment Friday and Saturday nights. Sunday, he said, was the restaurant's best day of the week. Customers had a choice of four
dinner items: fried shrimp, a steak platter, a ham platter or the restaurant's renowned fried chicken.
His mother worked in the office, Tavenner recalled, but because she ate lunch at the restaurant every day, all the regulars knew 'Mama Jo.'
The Tavenners' other Olney restaurants were Mr. T's Sandwich Factory, the Sea Barn, the Rib Room, Jake's Crab and Rib, Jake's Country
Market and Jo Jem's. In Hyattsville, they owned Silo Inn East, the Kahlua Hut and Jake's Hideaway. They also owned Home Arts in
Wheaton and GTW in Frederick.
Market and Jo Jem's. In Hyattsville, they owned Silo Inn East, the Kahlua Hut and Jake's Hideaway. They also owned Home Arts in
Wheaton and GTW in Frederick.
Mrs. Tavenner was born in Camden, N.J., and moved to the Washington area in 1937. She graduated from Western High School in 1940
and settled full time in Maryland in 1948. She retired as company comptroller in 1997.
and settled full time in Maryland in 1948. She retired as company comptroller in 1997.
She and her husband helped establish the Olney Chamber of Commerce and regularly sponsored local fundraisers. They also
spearheaded the effort to modify Montgomery ordinances so that restaurants could serve cocktails.
spearheaded the effort to modify Montgomery ordinances so that restaurants could serve cocktails.
Mrs. Tavenner was a member of the Roman Catholic communities at St. Catherine Labouré's in Wheaton, St. Peter's in Olney and St.
Patrick's in Rockville.
Patrick's in Rockville.
Her husband died in 2002.
Survivors include seven children, Jacqueline Windrow of Berlin, Md., Patricia Werner of Oswego, Ill., Cecelia Griffis of Potomac, Kathleen
Mitchell and Tommy Tavenner, both of Olney, Maureen Katzenberger of Ellicott City and Colleen Tavenner of Skiatook, Okla.; a sister,
Jackie Connolly of Bethesda; 22 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Mitchell and Tommy Tavenner, both of Olney, Maureen Katzenberger of Ellicott City and Colleen Tavenner of Skiatook, Okla.; a sister,
Jackie Connolly of Bethesda; 22 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
-- Joe Holley
| Silo Inn Owner |