The Old 76 House
Encyclopedia
The 76 House was built with the founding of Tappan
in 1686 and was expanded by the Mabie family to include additional tavern space in 1755. The earliest town meetings where held in this Dutch tavern and it remains the oldest example of Dutch public architecture in America. The earliest town records were kept at the tavern and describe the meetings of the town elders, their appropriations for food, ale and savories as well well as other services provided by the innkeepers: the Mabie family. Being naturally predisposed to separating from the English, these Dutch town elders were among the first to forge their ideas of revolution in a document which was called the Orangetown Resolutions
. This document was drafted and signed in the front dining room of the tavern and the original space is maintained in the same fashion it was on July 4 of 1774 when this important local declaration of independence was penned. As the war continued and Fort Lee
and New York defined the English might of the Hudson Valley
and the chain and forts at West Point
defined the Revolutionary stronghold, the town of Tappan and the 76 house in specific became the front line of the war of independence. This precipitated George Washington
and his first corp of the continental army to use the 76 House and the town of Tappan for a significant amount of time and during the year 1780 a number of important events involved the 76 house and our revolutionary founders. The British spy major John André
, having been caught north of Tarrytown
with Benedict Arnold
's plans of West Point and brought to face Washington was imprisoned in the tavern and eventually executed as a spy. This broke tradition and undermined the social structure of the colonies as Major Andre became amongst the first aristocrats executed by colonists and in a very real way defined a war that began about taxation (economics) into a war defined by a call to equality (equal treatment for an equal crime). The 76 also was witness to America's fitful christening as, in Tappan, Washington met with Carlson and received plans of the British evacuation and the official recognition of America as an independent nation on April 19, 1783- our real independence day. The 76 House remains the last Colonial Tavern providing service to travelers in the exact same unaltered structure for over 325 years. The '76 House is one of America's oldest taverns
. It is located on 110 Main St, Tappan
, New York
. Casparus Mabie, a cousin of the Loyalist
Maybees, built the '76 House, then known as "Mabie's Inn", as the home of Yoast Mabie in 1755. The Orangetown Resolutions
were adopted there on July 4th, 1774, exactly two years prior to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence
.
The '76 House was often used during the American Revolutionary War
. Through its long use as a meeting place for patriots
, the '76 House established itself as safe ground for Americans in the midst of the revolution, and also served as the "prison" of the Revolution's most notorious spy (as denoted by the site's historical marker), Major
John André
.
The '76 House, although often referred to as "André's Prison", was not a real prison, nor was it used as a place of incarceration for anyone before or since.
In 1800, the '76 House became a tavern and has been a place of shelter for tired travelers for more than two hundred years. It has accommodated, on various occasions, every General of the west wing of the Continental Army, including Commander-in-Chief General George Washington.
It is a contributing property to the Tappan Historic District
.
Tappan, New York
Tappan is a hamlet in the Town of Orangetown, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of Old Tappan, New Jersey; east of Nauraushaun and Pearl River; south of Blauvelt and west of Palisades and Sparkill...
in 1686 and was expanded by the Mabie family to include additional tavern space in 1755. The earliest town meetings where held in this Dutch tavern and it remains the oldest example of Dutch public architecture in America. The earliest town records were kept at the tavern and describe the meetings of the town elders, their appropriations for food, ale and savories as well well as other services provided by the innkeepers: the Mabie family. Being naturally predisposed to separating from the English, these Dutch town elders were among the first to forge their ideas of revolution in a document which was called the Orangetown Resolutions
Orangetown Resolutions
The Orangetown Resolutions were adopted on July 4, 1774, exactly two years prior to the adoption of the United States Declaration of Independence...
. This document was drafted and signed in the front dining room of the tavern and the original space is maintained in the same fashion it was on July 4 of 1774 when this important local declaration of independence was penned. As the war continued and Fort Lee
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 35,345. Located atop the Hudson Palisades, the borough is the western terminus of the George Washington Bridge...
and New York defined the English might of the Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
and the chain and forts at West Point
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
defined the Revolutionary stronghold, the town of Tappan and the 76 house in specific became the front line of the war of independence. This precipitated George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and his first corp of the continental army to use the 76 House and the town of Tappan for a significant amount of time and during the year 1780 a number of important events involved the 76 house and our revolutionary founders. The British spy major John André
John André
John André was a British army officer hanged as a spy during the American War of Independence. This was due to an incident in which he attempted to assist Benedict Arnold's attempted surrender of the fort at West Point, New York to the British.-Early life:André was born on May 2, 1750 in London to...
, having been caught north of Tarrytown
Tarrytown, New York
Tarrytown is a village in the town of Greenburgh in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, about north of midtown Manhattan in New York City, and is served by a stop on the Metro-North Hudson Line...
with Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
's plans of West Point and brought to face Washington was imprisoned in the tavern and eventually executed as a spy. This broke tradition and undermined the social structure of the colonies as Major Andre became amongst the first aristocrats executed by colonists and in a very real way defined a war that began about taxation (economics) into a war defined by a call to equality (equal treatment for an equal crime). The 76 also was witness to America's fitful christening as, in Tappan, Washington met with Carlson and received plans of the British evacuation and the official recognition of America as an independent nation on April 19, 1783- our real independence day. The 76 House remains the last Colonial Tavern providing service to travelers in the exact same unaltered structure for over 325 years. The '76 House is one of America's oldest taverns
Tavern
A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, and in some cases, where travelers receive lodging....
. It is located on 110 Main St, Tappan
Tappan, New York
Tappan is a hamlet in the Town of Orangetown, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of Old Tappan, New Jersey; east of Nauraushaun and Pearl River; south of Blauvelt and west of Palisades and Sparkill...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Casparus Mabie, a cousin of the Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
Maybees, built the '76 House, then known as "Mabie's Inn", as the home of Yoast Mabie in 1755. The Orangetown Resolutions
Orangetown Resolutions
The Orangetown Resolutions were adopted on July 4, 1774, exactly two years prior to the adoption of the United States Declaration of Independence...
were adopted there on July 4th, 1774, exactly two years prior to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
.
The '76 House was often used during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Through its long use as a meeting place for patriots
Patriot (American Revolution)
Patriots is a name often used to describe the colonists of the British Thirteen United Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution. It was their leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation...
, the '76 House established itself as safe ground for Americans in the midst of the revolution, and also served as the "prison" of the Revolution's most notorious spy (as denoted by the site's historical marker), Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
John André
John André
John André was a British army officer hanged as a spy during the American War of Independence. This was due to an incident in which he attempted to assist Benedict Arnold's attempted surrender of the fort at West Point, New York to the British.-Early life:André was born on May 2, 1750 in London to...
.
The '76 House, although often referred to as "André's Prison", was not a real prison, nor was it used as a place of incarceration for anyone before or since.
In 1800, the '76 House became a tavern and has been a place of shelter for tired travelers for more than two hundred years. It has accommodated, on various occasions, every General of the west wing of the Continental Army, including Commander-in-Chief General George Washington.
It is a contributing property to the Tappan Historic District
Tappan Historic District
Tappan Historic District is a national historic district located at Tappan in Rockland County, New York. It encompasses 26 contributing buildings and three contributing sites. The district consists of 30 properties that reflect the historic commercial and residential core of the late 18th and...
.
In popular culture
- In the fifth episode of the first season of The SopranosThe SopranosThe Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
, College, a few scenes were shot at The Old 76 House, where it stood in for a restaurant in MaineMaineMaine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
.
External links
- http://www.76house.com
- http://www.tursi.com/steve/photos/76house/