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Caroline's First Tavern
Ithaca Journal, Wednesday 5 May 1937
The "Old Bush Stand,", Caroline's First Tavern
The "Old Bush Stand," the first tavern erected in Caroline, stood on the south side of the Catskill Turnpike, in West Slaterville, about in the center of the cultivated field between the Celotus Stevens farmhouse and barns on the Homer Wool farm. The site of this tavern can be quite readily located from the presence of the remaining brick and stone fragments of the inn's fireplace and chimney. The builder of this first "public house," as hotels were then frequently called, was Deacon Richard Bush, who, in company with Joseph Chambers, had emigrated from Marbletown, Ulster County, in about 1800, and settled on adjoining properties which they had purchased of General John Cantine, an extensive land owner of Caroline in those days.
The following year (1801) Deacon Bush built the large square log house, which he at once opened for the accommodation of the traveling public. The building was quite a pretentious affair; and was conducted by the Deacon for some fifteen years until his death. His widow continued the business for several years thereafter. The dining room appears to have been the main feature of the inn; and there were said to have been quite definite and formal rules as to the precedence of those desiring to partake at the "festive board." The proprietor was want to stand at the dining room door, and after announcing the guests in a loud and commanding voice, direct the seating of the guests according to their relative social positions in the community. This attempt to cater to the town's "upper-crust" elevated many a chin and created a coolness between certain families that lasted after the tavern had passed on. In the adjoining bar room the men seem to have met on a more common level; and the landed gentry mixed freely with the stage-driver and the cattle drover.
Across the road, on the farm now owned by Frank Bull, was kept a large bunch of horses used to relay the stage coach teams at the "Bush Stand." Mrs. Mary Stephens, who now owns the farm where this hotel of "Ye Olden Times" held sway, is the proud possessor of an old fashioned copper cent plowed up by her late husband on the tavern's site some years ago. This "copper" bears the date 1812, one of the prosperous years of the "Bush Stand," when this form of money was the medium of exchange and truly "The Coin of the Realm." In the lot across from the tavern were pastured for the night the numerous droves of cattle which passed over this public highway, which connected the western section of the state with the Hudson river valley. The Bush Stand was destroyed by fire years ago. Cattle on the drive were also pastured on the Daniel Higgins farm.
Town of Caroline Created in Bush Tavern
In this tavern gathered in April, 1811, the men residing within the boundaries of the territory designated by the Legislature for the township, and there established the government of Caroline by selecting its first officers. Justices of the Peace were not elected until 1827 in this state, so none were selected in the tavern at this gathering. The Council of Appointment commissioned Ephriam Chambers and John Robison as the town's first justices.
Tavern Long Gone
The "Old Bush Stand," or, as sometimes called, the "Old Bush Tavern," has long since disappeared, but its memories will survive the centuries. On this particular 25th day of April, the sun rose in gorgeous plendor (sic), as though to herald the advent of this new addition to the free soil of America. The day of the week was Tuesday, and that is why this day is revered in Caroline. The proprietor of the "Bush Tavern" was Richard Bush, a pioneer settler from Ulster County, and furthermore a firm member of the church of his Dutch ancestors, and a "Deacon" of that church, and, as such, was always referred to as "Deacon Richard Bush." His principal occupation was to receive the guests, attend to their wants, and preside over the tavern "tap room."
It would be difficult to enumerate the names of all who attended at the tavern on this occasion, but we assume that most able-bodied men were present and listening to the program. When the meeting was over, the following town officers had been chosen, namely: Supervisor, William Rounsvell; town clerk, Levi Slater; assessors, Ephriam Chambers, Nathaniel Tobey, and Laban Jenks; commissioners of highways, John Robinson, Nathaniel Tobey and Moses Reed; overseers of the poor, John Robinson and Joseph Chambers; constables, Richard Chambers, Robert Hyde; fence viewers, Dr. Joseph Speed, Charles Mulks, Robert Freeland; poundmaster, Richard Bush. (Justices of the Peace were chosen later by the Board of Supervisors and judges of common pleas court jointly). Charles Mulks, collector.
After a century and a quarter, the site of the "Old Bush Tavern" has developed into a most attractive country estate, where its proprietors, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schultheis, live in modern comfort, among the Caroline hills. The scene is what one would wish; and, if the good "Deacon" were with us today, is what he would rejoice to see; the horse; the cow; the fowls; and, the choice garden spot; and, happiness where he once enjoyed life, among the eternal hills.
In that distant day, there was some talk of another war with the British Crown; and, we think we hear Captain Slater and Benoni Mulks discussing the affair. Benoni said he had fought at Saratoga and was willing to go again; and, Captain Slater said if there was trouble, he would lead a company (and he did). Nathaniel Tobey and John Robinson had some considerable talk about the three different groups of settlers; the Southerners; the New Englanders; and the Dutch.
Ithaca Journal, Wednesday 5 May 1937
The "Old Bush Stand,", Caroline's First Tavern
The "Old Bush Stand," the first tavern erected in Caroline, stood on the south side of the Catskill Turnpike, in West Slaterville, about in the center of the cultivated field between the Celotus Stevens farmhouse and barns on the Homer Wool farm. The site of this tavern can be quite readily located from the presence of the remaining brick and stone fragments of the inn's fireplace and chimney. The builder of this first "public house," as hotels were then frequently called, was Deacon Richard Bush, who, in company with Joseph Chambers, had emigrated from Marbletown, Ulster County, in about 1800, and settled on adjoining properties which they had purchased of General John Cantine, an extensive land owner of Caroline in those days.
The following year (1801) Deacon Bush built the large square log house, which he at once opened for the accommodation of the traveling public. The building was quite a pretentious affair; and was conducted by the Deacon for some fifteen years until his death. His widow continued the business for several years thereafter. The dining room appears to have been the main feature of the inn; and there were said to have been quite definite and formal rules as to the precedence of those desiring to partake at the "festive board." The proprietor was want to stand at the dining room door, and after announcing the guests in a loud and commanding voice, direct the seating of the guests according to their relative social positions in the community. This attempt to cater to the town's "upper-crust" elevated many a chin and created a coolness between certain families that lasted after the tavern had passed on. In the adjoining bar room the men seem to have met on a more common level; and the landed gentry mixed freely with the stage-driver and the cattle drover.
Across the road, on the farm now owned by Frank Bull, was kept a large bunch of horses used to relay the stage coach teams at the "Bush Stand." Mrs. Mary Stephens, who now owns the farm where this hotel of "Ye Olden Times" held sway, is the proud possessor of an old fashioned copper cent plowed up by her late husband on the tavern's site some years ago. This "copper" bears the date 1812, one of the prosperous years of the "Bush Stand," when this form of money was the medium of exchange and truly "The Coin of the Realm." In the lot across from the tavern were pastured for the night the numerous droves of cattle which passed over this public highway, which connected the western section of the state with the Hudson river valley. The Bush Stand was destroyed by fire years ago. Cattle on the drive were also pastured on the Daniel Higgins farm.
Town of Caroline Created in Bush Tavern
In this tavern gathered in April, 1811, the men residing within the boundaries of the territory designated by the Legislature for the township, and there established the government of Caroline by selecting its first officers. Justices of the Peace were not elected until 1827 in this state, so none were selected in the tavern at this gathering. The Council of Appointment commissioned Ephriam Chambers and John Robison as the town's first justices.
Tavern Long Gone
The "Old Bush Stand," or, as sometimes called, the "Old Bush Tavern," has long since disappeared, but its memories will survive the centuries. On this particular 25th day of April, the sun rose in gorgeous plendor (sic), as though to herald the advent of this new addition to the free soil of America. The day of the week was Tuesday, and that is why this day is revered in Caroline. The proprietor of the "Bush Tavern" was Richard Bush, a pioneer settler from Ulster County, and furthermore a firm member of the church of his Dutch ancestors, and a "Deacon" of that church, and, as such, was always referred to as "Deacon Richard Bush." His principal occupation was to receive the guests, attend to their wants, and preside over the tavern "tap room."
It would be difficult to enumerate the names of all who attended at the tavern on this occasion, but we assume that most able-bodied men were present and listening to the program. When the meeting was over, the following town officers had been chosen, namely: Supervisor, William Rounsvell; town clerk, Levi Slater; assessors, Ephriam Chambers, Nathaniel Tobey, and Laban Jenks; commissioners of highways, John Robinson, Nathaniel Tobey and Moses Reed; overseers of the poor, John Robinson and Joseph Chambers; constables, Richard Chambers, Robert Hyde; fence viewers, Dr. Joseph Speed, Charles Mulks, Robert Freeland; poundmaster, Richard Bush. (Justices of the Peace were chosen later by the Board of Supervisors and judges of common pleas court jointly). Charles Mulks, collector.
After a century and a quarter, the site of the "Old Bush Tavern" has developed into a most attractive country estate, where its proprietors, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schultheis, live in modern comfort, among the Caroline hills. The scene is what one would wish; and, if the good "Deacon" were with us today, is what he would rejoice to see; the horse; the cow; the fowls; and, the choice garden spot; and, happiness where he once enjoyed life, among the eternal hills.
In that distant day, there was some talk of another war with the British Crown; and, we think we hear Captain Slater and Benoni Mulks discussing the affair. Benoni said he had fought at Saratoga and was willing to go again; and, Captain Slater said if there was trouble, he would lead a company (and he did). Nathaniel Tobey and John Robinson had some considerable talk about the three different groups of settlers; the Southerners; the New Englanders; and the Dutch.
