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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
Mr. Thomas Olcott was licensed a year later to keep a house of
entertainment at Hop Brook, in Manchester.
Benjamin's Tavern was a noted and "newsy" stage-post during the
Revolution. It stood on the north corner of Main and Orchard streets.
Later, Woodbridge's (afterward Well's) Tavern, on the east side of
Main Street, became the chief hostelry. In 1817 President Monroe
lodged here. The President was called upon by General Griswold and
most of our first citizens, while outside the drum-and-fife corps of the
artillery company made the air throb and thrill with a lively serenade.
To his callers the President was very gracious, declaring, among other
things, that our street elms were the finest he had ever seen.
The Phelps Tavern (first established by Richard Goodwin), once
standmg on the south corner of Mill and Main streets, came into vogue
a little later. Here General Lafayette halted with his escort in 1824,
and passed through its portal, upon his crutches, for a short rest.
Pitkin's Tavern was maintained for many years on the bank of
the Connecticut, near the ferry, where belated travellers might find
shelter.
The present hotel in the meadow was once kept by Joseph Pantry
Jones, an old captain of our infantry company, and was a popular resort
during the field-days of the militia upon the meadows.
Tripp's Tavern, midway on the Bridge Road, with its once famous
punches, and the Jacksonian vigor of its politics, is still well remembered,
though in other hands its ancient character is lost.
Many other public-houses have afforded entertainment to the passing
stranger, and places of evening resort to the bibulous or gossipy citizen.
Among these was one by Levi Goodwin (about 1800), at the junction
of the main streets, south of Gilman's Brook, - all the scenes of old-time
gatherings, of stirring interest at the time, but now as remote as the
glow of the tavern hearth-fires, which no longer, as of old, warm the
genial flip-iron to dissipate the late comer's chill.
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