The John Parker Tavern is a historic building located at 2 Morristown Road (
U.S. Route 202
U.S. Route 202 (US 202) is a spur route of US 2. It follows a northeasterly and southwesterly direction stretching from Delaware to Maine, also traveling through the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massa ...
) in the borough of
Bernardsville
Bernardsville () is a borough in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The borough is nestled in the heart of the Raritan Valley region. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 7,707, in
Somerset County, New Jersey
Somerset County is a county located in the north-central part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States Census, the county's population was 345,361, an increase of 21,917 (6.8%) from the 323,444 counted at the 2010 U.S Cen ...
. Originally known as the Vealtown Tavern, it was frequently used by
Continental Army
The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies (the Thirteen Colonies) in the Revolutionary-era United States. It was formed by the Second Continental Congress after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, and was establis ...
soldiers during the
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
. It was added to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
on December 14, 1978 for its significance in commerce, military history, and local history.
[ With ]
History
While the exact date of construction is unknown, the tavern was built before the Revolutionary War and owned by Captain John Parker (1747–1781)
until his death. American General
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne (January 1, 1745 – December 15, 1796) was an American soldier, officer, statesman, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his mil ...
was a frequent guest while in the area. Another guest, known as Dr. Byram, was really Aaron Wilde, a British spy in the area, who was eventually captured and hanged as a spy. It continued operating as a tavern until 1840, when it was sold to Roderick Alexander Kitchell, who used it as a private residence.
In 1903, the building became the Bernardsville Public Library. In 1999, it was sold for commercial use.
Description
The tavern is a one and one-half story structure with a
gable roof
A gable roof is a roof consisting of two sections whose upper horizontal edges meet to form its ridge. The most common roof shape in cold or temperate climates, it is constructed of rafters, roof trusses or purlins. The pitch of a gable roof ca ...
and a one story full length portico. It was modified in 1903, with a one story addition in the rear and in 1969, with a two story addition.
See also
*
References
External links
*
* John Parker Tavern
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parker, John, Tavern
Bernardsville, New Jersey
Taverns in New Jersey
Buildings and structures in Somerset County, New Jersey
New Jersey in the American Revolution
National Register of Historic Places in Somerset County, New Jersey
New Jersey Register of Historic Places