It Happened Here -- "The Tavern Lamps are Burning"

The Tavern Lamps are Burning was the title of a book by Carl Carmer, a popular folklorist and spinner of historic New York non-fiction stories from the 1940's through the mid 1970's. Though he doesn't specifically refer to them in his anthology, Carmer appreciated the importance of taverns,  for public discourse and debate so necessary in a new democracy, and their role as public/ governmental spaces for conducting the business of

(N.Y. Rte. 9 Valatie)

government. Unlike New England which had long traditions of town meetings, held in the local Congregational Church Meeting houses, or the South which early-on established County Courthouses, New York had few such institutions.  Albany's Staat Huis was a notable exception of a public building that existed from the earliest Dutch settlement, throughout much of the colonial period.     Where the Great Leaseholds held sway, government business was often transacted along with business of the Manor, at the Manor house. But as New York moved to restrict the power of the “Lords of the Manor” the tendency was to move governmental functions from the manors themselves.

 

(NY 209, Marbletown)

 

                                                                          One of the first concerns of the rebel governments was to determine who were their supporters and who were not.  In many counties people were asked (required) to  pledge their acceptance of the new governments by signing onto documents like the "Articles of Association".  Taverns were often used.

(Co. Rte 32, N. Chatham)

                                          (NY Rte 32, Saugerties)

                                                                                               
                                                            














The early years of the revolution were a disaster for the rebel forces in New York necessitating that  the State government, as well as the national government become a government on the run.

 

(Corner of Maiden Lane & Fair St,
Kingston)

The growth of roads, turnpikes and canals at the end of the 18th century and first decades of the 19th century encouraged the growth of many more taverns with accommodations for  travelers.                


The Susquehanna Turnpike ran past the once solid and handsome Richtmyer Tavern (NY 990V, Conesville)

Site of one of the first taverns built to accommodate Turnpike travelers, NY 20, Guilderland

                                                            

The Depuy House in High Falls was a tavern on the D&H Canal

 






 

   
 By the mid-nineteen hundreds  the term "tavern"was falling out of fashion with its standard offerings of food, drink and usually common dormitory accommodations  in favor of hotels, with private rooms and separate dining and bar facilities.  Soon after, saloons would make their appearance with facilities
for alcohol consumption, and perhaps light meals but no sleeping facilities.

   The Marker of the Week -- Imagine

the stories told and political intrigues that could have happened here!

 

(Co. Rte. 31, Saugerties)