Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-10-05

Frances Hotel, Once the Resort of Heroes, /
Now a salonn-Ol Tavern on the Kings /
bridge Road The Austen Homestead
Scene of Both Love and Tragedy.
/ The American Of the present day has
often been accused, and perhaps not alto
gether uniustly. of having no regard
for the household gods of his fathers and
Of being so intensely practical that in his
rush for wealth he sweeps away the monu-
ments of history. While the bronze tab
lets erected by the Sons of the Revolution
on many historical spots stamp the accu-
sation as true there are still many places
on Manhattan Island and in its environ
mcnts where important events in the his
tory of this country transpired which re-
main practically unchanged in appearance
except by dccaying process of time
\ stranger would hardly think that one
Of the most vauntcd historical relics of the
Revolution could be found within stones
throw Of the Stock Exchange. Yet
Frauncos' tavern, which still stands on the
southeast corner of Broad and Pearl
streets, remains almost as it was in the
days of Washington.
During the war of the Revolution this
was undoubtedly the most popular public
house in town. The exact date of its cree
tion is unknown. 1t is believed that
Stephen or Eticnne de Lancey built it in
the year 1880. as the old land records show
that in that year Stophanus van Cort
landt whose daughter De Lancey mar
ricd, conveyed to her the plot of ground
ON which the building is situated. In 1862
Samuel Fraunces purchased the property,
transformed it into tavern and named
it Queen Charlottc's inn.
During the war for liberty the Amcri-
cans and royalists occupied the tavern in
turn. and Sir Henry Clinton and Wash
ington each occupied its chambers when
their respective forces were in possession
of the city. Its owner, Samuel Iraunces,
became the steward of the American ar
my, and in the corner room one flight OF
stairs up from the street Washington part
ed with the officers of his army after the
evacuation of New York by the British.
That same room is still used for assem-
blagcs, civil and political Here the Sons
of the Revolution meet on Washington 5
Birthday. The first or street floor of the
old building is now used as a saloon. How
much longer the structure will Withstand
the onward march Of progress is a conun-
drum. As it is it has survived six gcncr-
ations Of tenants
After the battles on Washington or Har
, lem Heights during the Revolution there
/ was a great gathering of the scattered
forces of the Americans at a house which
is still standing on Kingsbridgc road
at the foot of the carriage road that leads
/ up to Inwood This building, known as
i the Old Black Horse tavern, was then II
new building, and if report be true there
have been no changes made in it from that
day to this. 1t is said that Washington
and his staff slept there the night after
- Iii. L -
spy was hung from its old signpost. The
!. old inn is now inhabited by an ancient
German couple engaged in the cabbage in
dustry.
r A little farther up Kingsbridge road is
\ the old Van Tassel homestead better
known as the Old Century House. 1t is
said that it was built in 1886 for Levi
Van Tasscl. and that at the time Of the
battle of Harlem Heights it was one Of the
properties OF the Van Cortlandt family
r There is "a legend connected with thi,
house that Major Andre, accompanied by
Sir Henry Clinton. stopped there the nj -h'
preceding Andres start on his journey tC
meet Benedict Arnold. They sat up al
night and parted in the morning. Si
Henry Clinton returning to New York
s The house is in a good state Of Tppair ant
is inhabited.
Cii0 Va va -,'.','''',' -
ulils sec'Io" Mnl'n mas ucAVu lii' I"N Ie'
u UNIV INC oIu y HS'En W, "
ruins! ~ 'ilI'I "' 'iuc' Nill'oii' ~ - II"
cnarihihS O'u Ic5Iuoilce was cIoc'Vu II
-, l'IV anu Is at cIle present tii"V III ~
u nafkaoie s'"'e ol Preservation. ~ s'''ilu
H. close 10 the "a'cr euee' surrUuIiu ~ ~
Droau anu sweeping lawns uOIuoIcu H'
lilac pushe9' Whlch piooin uuIinB 'lcl
season III pIen'cous proiusloh' ne iio",
itseI' covered WIN Vihes' Yves win 'he OK
nome OIL M"sAIhE'oh IrNlng' sunny 9iu'
IN romantic pehuty' Durlhg 'Ile sVirrlp
tihles Oh 'he heNolu'loh 'nls mansion 9ii'i
tereu' III Vurh Oolh loyailsu anu IoE"ilS'
patriot ana Tory ana was the s'ene
rs that a trooper of King George loved one O
Of the daughters of the house OF Austen
famed Tor the beauty OF It's women She
t. being intensely loyal to the cause OF Hnei
ty, rejected his advances aIter which ht
IL driven To despair gained access To he
apartment ana hanged himself Thus In