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Show September 26, 2000 cratohing By Mike DAsto Forum Staff Writer Where else near Westminster can one find $1 dollar tap beer, a yellow Naugahyde jury box, and incredible pickled eggs all in a room the size of a single car garage? The Tap Room. Located at 2168 Highland Drive, this historic bar has held a long standing relationship with Westminster College as a place of retreat, a sanctuary from the demands of economic case studies and renaissance philosophy, a place where cheap draft beer is a constant, served by a bartender who could pass as your mother. When you step inside, prepare yourself: this bar is small. When the door shuts behind you, some 13 faces will glance your way. My first response was to turn and flee when, at that moment, a g couple of regulars vacated their bar stools and leaned against the wall, inviting me and my guest to take a seat at the bar. Since its opening in 1947, this bar has seen good many friends walk through its front door. Just ask Alta Watson, our bartender. For 29 years, Watson has tended to her loyal patrons, serving more than just draft beer. For many, Watson has served as a conversationalist, psychologist, and protector. However shes most well known as mom. plaid-wearin- The Forum - 3 i History of the Tap Room uti She This is reflected by a plaque hanging on the wall next to the register, which reads: To Alta, the worlds greatest mom - thank you for being there through the best and worst of times. Signed, The Tap Room. It is a testament from her many regulars to Watsons maternal disposition. Theyre all my kids, said 81 year old Watson when describing her regulars. These kids are so neat, they call me mom. The patrons cheering around us drowned Altas cottony voice out. My friend and I had situated ourselves near an Australian couple who were excited to watch the Olympics on the T.V. overhead. This hours event was womens weight lifting. A Chinese woman struggled several hundred pounds over her head; the Australians two chairs down cheered her on. A few seconds later, the cheering died down, and the music of Tom Petty rose from the jukebox behind us. Watson was proud to recite the history of the Tap Room when asked, and she wasnt alone - two young men to our left joined the conversation, anxious to scratch out the epic tale of die Tap Room on a Coors Light coaster. According to Watson and my fellow bar mates, the uncommonly petite building was first used as a cleaning establishment in 1928, two years later the building Room since his first finals exam week, and has built youthful and seasoned men upon his Tap Room kinship to and women wearing anything this day. This is the best bar Ive found in Salt Lake, advised Johnson. The greatest thing about this place everybody knows each other. Its like Cheers. I meet people from all walks of life here, continued Johnson. Lawyers, bums, theyre all equal here. The Tap Room will celebrate its 55th year of business this April 10th, effectively, celeg relationbrating a ship with Westminster College and each generation of students. It is hard not to make tight friendships in such Photo by Suzy Gunderson tight quarters; perhaps this is from tie to One such what makes this bar different face was a young man named than others in Salt Lake. Watson would argue so: The Jay Johnson, sitting to my left. bartenders never want to Johnson, a professional leave, said Watson. Without this place, I dont know skydiver, is a 1999 Westminster graduate in ecowhere I would be. nomics. He has relied upon the dollar beer of the Tap -- life-lon- tycoon of his day, created the Tap Room as a place where locals could order a beer in the then bar-leSugarhouse area. , Manny always wanted a mixed crowd, said Watson, who remembers fondly the many faces of the bars past. irt. ss . the We make BANKING easy i uliRiN' BUY RECYCLED Look around the bar today, and youll find a mix of changed hands becoming a sandwich shop, then a chiropractors office until 1947, when Manny Daniels, a bar m .'.I I iSMiWlUr ill Mnitoip worn Mtt Villi '-- ! I VfJK ifcHsj I wll& iMiib jlljsli VJfii liU jil; -- r.ltUl- - ft.i.to 'All Lift (ClfiHtdi fc itl w 301: r ...jK ; 'iMA uri iUA Ifihriti AND save: When you buy products made from recycled materials, recycling keeps working. To find out more, call or visit www environmentaldefense.org Lr !U ' Sn. Of Vf- 0 3HaXIDIKWVaBavLV5VtnaP!S522ft5!5Q3!GK& i wiis4.Uii fJ Arji llpf. i !! 113- - I ; S' 3' IW J 1 ii Mill i t . i J t Of . l h '.firi HUlJiHUtlfe Vi3l&itoAS!lM ! f i O - m f. IMI 1 Wait. t . I 4M !( ,1 t V.Jm ftl it i r (.iQiru, |