A typical colonial tavern, painted by John S.C. Schaak, 1762. (Wikimedia Commons)
Serving Up History as Well as Hospitality
By Wendy Greenberg
Recently the King George II Inn in Bristol, Pa., offered customers designated dishes priced at $16.81 to celebrate customer loyalty and its history. The history alone is worth saluting — the bustling restaurant has been around since 1681, before the United States was a country.
While the King George II Inn might be unique in that its original concept was to accommodate users of a ferry service, some hostelries in Central New Jersey and Bucks County, Pa., that hearken back to the American Revolution in some form that still exist today. Many were on the Swift, Sure Stagecoach Line connecting Philadelphia and New York City beginning in the mid-1700s.
Colonial taverns and inns had their own culture — the bar scene of the mid-1700s if you will — and that tavern culture of meetings and political discussions is said to have played a part in fueling dialogues leading up to the Revolutionary War.
“Taverns were among the most important community spaces in 18th century Princeton,” says Stephanie Schwartz, curator of collections and research for The Historical Society of Princeton (HSP). “Because Princeton sat along a major travel route, its taverns became natural gathering places for residents and travelers alike. They were where people heard news, attended meetings, and conducted everyday business.”
In fact, the taverns were so significant to 18th century Princeton that the HSP is mounting an exhibit, “Princeton’s Taverns: On the Road to Revolution,” opening this May in Dohm Alley on Nassau Street, next to Starbucks. According to Schwartz, it will explore the role of taverns in the town’s early history.
“More than places to eat, drink, and sleep, these everyday spaces served as centers of conversation, exchange, and civic life in Revolutionary-era Princeton and offer a lens for thinking about what spaces serve that role today,” says Schwartz.
“We knew we wanted to explore everyday life during the Revolutionary era, and taverns offered a direct way into that story,” she says. “Dohm Alley is an especially fitting location — it allows us to present this history just steps from Nassau Street, where many of Princeton’s 18th-century taverns once stood.”
Indeed, Princeton had the Nassau Inn, still prominent today, and a few others, including Jacob Hyer’s Hudibras Inn. A blaze on January 2, 1773, gutted the Hudibras, but it was rebuilt and reopened. The tavern went to new owners after Hyer’s death, but it did not survive. It was located where Princeton University’s Harvey S. Firestone Memorial Library now stands.
A handful of books on Colonial taverns and Colonial-era taverns in New Jersey, have been published. Michael Gabriele, author of Colonial Taverns of New Jersey: Libations, Liberty & Revolution (The History Press 2023), said in a December 2024 talk at Princeton Public Library that in the 1600s and 1700s taverns were a place to hear folk music, as someone would stand and sing a song from the singer’s country of origin. Taverns were also where stagecoaches would deliver newspapers, which were often read aloud, so taverns became places for sharing ideas. Mail was delivered and picked up. Taverns were often where one could enlist in a militia, and where local governments and courts might meet.
Moore’s Tavern in Freehold, for example, opened in 1787 as a stagecoach stop at Monmouth House, and the tavern “played a pivotal role as a meeting place for Patriots and a site for strategic discussions,” according to its website.
“Taverns,” says Gabriele in the filmed library talk, “were the seedbeds of the Revolution.”
The book states: “In many cases, taverns were the only places where momentous events and gatherings could occur.” As public venues, both Patriots and Loyalists had a venue for discussions.
Following are some eateries where you can still dine today that might evoke the Revolutionary War-era spirit during this 250th anniversary year.
King George II Inn, 1681
102 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, Pa.
215.788.5536; Kginn.com
Situated on the Delaware River, the King George II Inn claims George Washington, John Adams, and James Madison as guests, and served as the headquarters for American soldiers as they prepared to cross the river in 1776. The bar comes from the ship Lafayette.
According to tourbristol.org, “This establishment is one of the oldest inns in continuous operation in the country. The 1765 structure that is still visible today replaced the original ferry house which had opened at Bristol’s founding in 1681.”
Logan Inn, 1727
10 West Ferry Street, New Hope, Pa.
215.862.2300
bylandmark.com/our-venues/venue-showcase-logan-inn
The Logan Inn was built in 1722 as a tavern by John Wells to support his new ferry service across the Delaware River and was called The Ferry Tavern. It officially became an inn in 1727. It was a stop for travelers and a site where Revolutionary War soldiers were sometimes brought, according to online history. It was renamed the Logan Inn in 1828 in honor of Chief Logan of the Lenni Lenape tribe, whose statue is by the entrance. Recently Landmark Hospitality completed an expansion and luxury renovation of the property. The Logan Inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Sergeantsville Inn, 1734
601 Rosemont Ringoes Road, Sergeantsville
609.397.3700; sergeantsvilleinn.com
This 290-year-old Hunterdon County inn is said to have sheltered George Washington. There is a tavern and dining room, with an ambiance that evokes Colonial times. It was not always a restaurant, but a grain store and pelt trading center. The restaurant incorporates the original stone and part of the building, and celebrated Chef Sean Gray is in the kitchen.
Stage House Tavern, 1737
366 Park Avenue, Scotch Plains
908.322.4224; stagehousetavern.com/scotchplains
Scotch Plains was a setting for the Revolutionary War and Battle of Short Hills in June 1777. A plaque outside the Stage House Tavern recognizes the 1789 innkeeper, Recompense Stanberry, who organized a troop of soldiers, the Jersey Blues, just outside the inn.
As described on the website of The National Trust for Historic Preservation: “Opened in 1737 by John Sutton as the Stage House Inn, the tavern served the community as a meeting place for local government and became a central location during the Revolutionary War for patriot conscription. Operated by over two dozen inn keepers in the 18th and 19th century, the Stage House has continued to serve customers and the Scotch Plains community.”
The site has several structures, the oldest of which is believed to be from 1684. Structural beams and an old fireplace cast with the date 1737 have been preserved.
Black Horse Tavern and Pub, 1741
1 West Main Street, Mendham
973.543.7300; Blackhorsenj.com
The Black Horse Tavern and Pub calls itself “New Jersey’s oldest continually running restaurant.” Service dates to 1742 when the tavern served food and the pub was used as stables. A recent complete renovation addressed some of the challenges of the building while preserving character, including ceiling beams made from the original wood floor. The menu, by Chef Dan Zappula, features elevated American classics.
Rocky Hill Inn and Tavern, 1745
137 Washington Street, Rocky Hill
609.683.8930; Rockyhilltavern.com
The first “tavern license” for the Rocky Hill Inn was given to the Harrison family in 1745, and by 1763 it is shown on old maps. Washington stayed in a nearby home during his campaign. “It is reasonable to assume that he may have visited” the inn at least once, its website says. The Inn remained in the Harrison family throughout the 18th century. Isaac Stout bought it in 1825, and a new, larger structure became “the center for community assembly and news exchange among the area residents.” It went through several owners and names, and by 1880 it was once again the Rocky Hill Inn. After a third floor was added, it looked much the same as today. The inn portion closed after World War II, but the food and bar service have continued. The gastropub has been featured on HGTV’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
Black Bass Hotel, 1745
3774 River Road, Lumberville, Pa.
215.297.9260; Blackbasshotel.com
Built in the 1740s, the Black Bass Hotel served as a haven for “travelers, traders, and sportsmen,” with many names through the years including Wall’s Tavern, Lumberville Hotel, Temple Bar, and The Rising Sun. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Its website puts to rest the rumor that George Washington slept there: “As Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, Washington was turned away by the innkeeper of the Bass who was a Tory and loyal to the British Crown. He made it clear that Washington was not welcome to stay.” The tavern was damaged by a fire in 1833 and proprietor Major Anthony Fry carried out a huge quantity of gunpowder that was stored in the cellar, avoiding an explosion. A suite is named for him. The inn passed through several owners until it was purchased in 1949 by Herbert Ward, who ran it until his death 54 years later. A pewter bar in the tavern was originally at Maxim’s of Paris. A collection of British memorabilia, as well as antiques and artwork, were restored by the Thompson family, who in 2008 purchased the Black Bass and embarked on a total restoration of the historic hotel.
Nassau Inn, 1756
10 Palmer Square East, Princeton
609.921.7500; Nassauinn.com
The original Nassau Tavern at 52 Nassau Street was built in 1756 as a residence for Judge Thomas Leonard. He died in 1759, and his home became known as the College Inn. Trustees of the College of New Jersey (which later became Princeton University) held dinners there, according to Colonial Taverns of New Jersey.
The Inn’s first proprietor was Christopher Beekman, and it was the center of Princeton life. A website timeline describes how “wine and argument flowed freely in Beekman’s taproom, or drinking room,” and among the guests were Paul Revere, Robert Morris, and Thomas Paine, as well as delegates to the Continental Congress, and officers of the Continental Army.
At the turn of the century, Beekman and his wife retired, and new owner John Gifford renamed it the Nassau Inn. The building was damaged by fire in 1925 and was torn down to make way for Palmer Square in 1937, where it relocated. Norman Rockwell’s largest mural is on view behind the bar of the Yankee Doodle Tap Room. The hotel has artifacts on display, including a musket and sword carried by Gen. Edward Hughes during the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777, and a stone and timber platform bench from the original Nassau Inn that supported casks of wine and spirits in the old cellar.
The inn, wrote Elizabeth Egan, director of marketing, “has long been regarded as Princeton’s living room, a meeting spot for dignitaries, Princeton University alumni, visiting scholars, and travelers from around the globe.”
The Cranbury Inn, 1750 and 1765
21 South Main Street, Cranbury
609.655.5595; thecranburyinn.com
The Cranbury Inn has been a place to eat and drink since the 1750s when Cranbury was a major thoroughfare for Colonial travelers. According to its website, “With increasing development, a need arose in central New Jersey for a place to eat and drink, get fresh horses, and spend the night; thus, in the mid-1700s (1750 and 1765) our taverns were built to meet these needs of the travelers passing through this area.”
Gen. Washington and his staff headquartered in Cranbury in June 1778, with Alexander Hamilton and Le Marquis de Lafayette, as researched by the Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society. The Cranbury Inn website states that it is “absolutely very possible and probably very likely that the major figures visited.” In 1800, a couple built their house across from two original taverns built in 1750 and 1765, and records show the house is where the Cranbury Inn is now. During a remodeling and restoration in the 1930s, according to a website narrative, a section of the wall in the main dining room was left exposed through a glass covering to show the timber frame construction from 1750. Revolutionary-era artifacts, including muskets, handguns and powder horns reside in an inn “history room.” Original pumpkin pine flooring in the new lounge, dating to the late 1700s or early 1800s, was also restored after being uncovered by large floor rugs. Further information on the history is found in the booklet, George Washington In Cranbury by John Whiteclay Chambers II, published by the Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society.
The Salt House, 1751
7 East Ferry Street, New Hope, Pa.
267.740.7908; thesalthouse.com
The Salt House has been a landmark since 1751. Originally serving as a salt house, the building’s upstairs still features a massive winch that once pulled blocks of salt through its double windows. Over the centuries, the Salt House has evolved – becoming a ticket house for the ferry that crossed the Delaware River and even serving as the site of the town library. After several incarnations serving food and drinks, The Salt House has found its current identity as a culinary destination.
The Pluckemin Inn, 1779
10 Pluckemin Way, Bedminster
908.658.9292; pluckemininn.com
The Pluckemin Inn is housed in a rebuilt Revolutionary War-era farmhouse. Its website states that the Pluckemin Tavern was the site of many Washington’s Army meetings, and the Pluckemin Inn sits roughly on the same space in the village of Bedminster. In the Library of Congress, there are about 20 letters from Washington that mention Pluckemin. In the winter of 1778-1779, General Henry Knox established a massive artillery encampment, where he began conducting training. Jacob Eoff purchased 500 acres of Pluckemin and built the Pluckemin Inn and the Pluckemin Tavern. It is now roughly the site on which the Pluckemin Inn stands.
Woolverton Inn, 1792
6 Woolverton Road, Stockton
609.397.0802; Woolvertoninn.com
The Woolverton Inn’s history dates to the early days of commerce along the Delaware River. The original owner, John Prall Jr. served in the Revolutionary War, fighting in such exchanges as the battles of Germantown, Monmouth, and Millstone. Mary Woolverton Bray made linseed suits for the Continental Army. Her husband Daniel Bray was a captain on Gen. George Washington’s staff, who helped to collect the boats necessary for crossing the Delaware on the night of December 25.
In August 1792, Lieutenant John Prall Jr. purchased 290 acres of farmland and built a two-story farmhouse. The workable farm grew linseed and grain, which was processed at the Prallsville Mills, and then barged down the Delaware River to be sold. In the mid-1800s, Maurice and Asher Woolverton purchased a portion of the land and the old farmhouse, completing significant renovations to the building which stands today — a three-story grand Colonial Manor house, according to its history, where chef Julia and Paul Child were married on property in 1946. During the 1950s and beyond, it was the private residence of St. John Terrell, who established the Bucks County Playhouse and Lambertville Music Circus. In the 1980s it became a bed and breakfast.
The Peacock Inn, 1779
20 Bayard Lane, Princeton
609.924.1707; Peacockinn.com
Originally built during the Colonial era on Nassau Street, the property was purchased by Jonathan Deare — delegate to the first Provincial Congress of 1775 and member of the Continental Congress. During sessions at nearby Nassau Hall, the house provided lodging for fellow congressmen, according to a timeline on its website. The building was relocated to its current address on Bayard Lane, in 1875, and converted into the Princeton Hotel Company by William Libbey III, a Princeton professor, geographer, and pioneering archaeologist By 1911, owners Joseph and Helen O’Connor officially named the inn The Peacock Inn, after one in the Midlands of England.
In 1915, historic preservationist and architect Rolf Bauhan restored the inn, which had been damaged by fire. During Prohibition, the Inn’s basement became a speakeasy known as Peacock Alley, where the bar was decorated with murals by Jazz Age illustrator John Held Jr. In 1954, notes the timeline, “the entire Princeton football team crowded onto the Inn’s front porch, which promptly collapsed under their weight. A photographer captured the dramatic scene, and the iconic, award-winning image later appeared in Sports Illustrated.” The original Peacock Inn underwent an extensive renovation in 2006 and reopened in 2010, with luxury accommodations and an acclaimed restaurant, The Perch. Genesis Hospitality Group acquired the property in 2018.
