Is There a Tavern in this Town?

By Frank Waterman and Gabrielle Pierce

  The Catskill Turnpike and the State Road that preceded it were heavily traveled and, beginning about 1791, taverns sprang up along them to provide travelers with food, drink, and lodging.   At any given time, there were 6 or 7 taverns in Meredith, about one per mile. This presentation will tell you the history of each of our taverns, where they were, what they were like, and their demise.  As an example of what an early tavern was like, we are fortunate to have Bristol Tavern, which has been restored and still retains many of its original features, including Masonic emblems stenciled on a ceiling more than 200 years ago, when the Masons met there.

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