The '76 House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The '76 House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Old 76 House (2010)
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 110 Main St, Tappan, New York |
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| Part of | Tappan Historic District |
| NRHP reference No. | 90000689 |
The '76 House, also known as the Old '76 House, is a very old building in Tappan, New York. It was built in 1754 by Casparus Mabie. He used it as his home and also as a tavern, which was a place where people could eat and drink.
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History of the '76 House
Building the Tavern
Many people in Tappan thought the '76 House was built much earlier, even back to 1686. But historians have found that it was built just a few decades before the American Revolutionary War.
In 1753, Casparus Mabie bought some land. The very next year, in 1754, he built the house we now call the '76 House. He made sure to include a space for a tavern inside. It was probably just a small area with a few tables in the front room.
By 1756, official records show that important meetings were held there. The "Supervisors for the County of Orange" met at Casparus Mabie's house. These records even tell us what food and drinks they had!
There was a story that the '76 House was called "Mabie's Inn." Some believed that the Orangetown Resolutions were signed there in 1774. However, historians have found that this is not true. The actual house where those events happened was around the corner and was later torn down.
A Place for Patriots During the Revolution
During the American Revolutionary War, the '76 House was a popular meeting spot. Local Patriots, who supported American independence, would gather there.
For a few days in 1780, the house became a temporary prison. It held Major John André, a famous spy for the British. When the American army, called the Continental Army, camped in Tappan, the '76 House was used as a headquarters. General Nathanael Greene stayed there.
By this time, Casparus Mabie had built another house for his family. It was on a hill behind the '76 House, now called André Hill. This is where Major André was put to death after his trial. General George Washington was not at the trial. He also did not speak with André, as some stories claim. André asked to be shot like a soldier, not hanged, but Washington did not agree to his request.
As the war continued, Tappan became an important front-line area. British forces controlled Fort Lee and New York City. The Americans held West Point. George Washington made the nearby De Wint House his main headquarters.
Some local stories say that Washington ate or drank at the '76 House. But there is no proof of this. He even brought his own chef, Samuel Fraunces, with him to Tappan. Fraunces was famous for his tavern in New York City. There is also no evidence that Washington met the British Commander Carleton at the '76 House at the end of the war. Their dinners together were at the De Wint House and on a British ship.
Bringing the House Back to Life
In 1987, a man named Rob Norden bought the restaurant. His son, also named Rob, now owns and runs it. They worked hard to research the building's history and make it look like it did long ago. They also fixed many structural problems.
They made the foundation stronger with concrete. The old floor and ceiling beams were weak, so they replaced them. They used new beams from an old barn in Canada that was as old as the tavern itself. The old floorboards were also replaced with similar ones from an old schoolhouse. The '76 House is an important part of the Tappan Historic District.
The '76 House Today
Today, the Old '76 House is still a restaurant. It has also been featured in movies and TV shows. Some scenes from the TV show The Sopranos were filmed there. The movie Stepmom, starring Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts, also filmed scenes at the '76 House.
