Three Pigeons facts for kids
Map from 1873.
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| Alternate spelling | Three Pidgeons |
|---|---|
| Business | Inn Hotel Tavern |
| Established | 1700s |
| Closed | 1893 |
| Address | Hackensack Plank Road |
| Location | Maisland, New Jersey |
The Three Pigeons was a famous inn and meeting place in Bergen Township, New Jersey. It was very important during the time of the American Revolution. People used it as a landmark and for special events.
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Where Was the Three Pigeons Located?
The Three Pigeons was a two-story building. It stood at the bottom of the west side of the Hudson Palisades. This is a line of tall cliffs along the Hudson River. The inn was located east of a main road. This road is now called Bergen Turnpike.
The building was near the southern edge of a settlement called Maisland. It was close to where Tonnelle Avenue and Hackensack Plank Road meet today. This area is now part of North Bergen, New Jersey. Today, this busy intersection is known as "Six Corners." A laundromat and a cafe there share the same name.
The name "Three Pigeons" was popular for inns. It appeared in many famous plays. These included She Stoops to Conquer and The Alchemist. Even William Shakespeare used a similar name in The Merry Wives of Windsor. Many inns in England still use this name today.
A Look Back: History of the Inn
The Three Pigeons Tavern was well-known during the colonial era. The earliest record mentions a tavern keeper named William Earle. He was active in the early 1700s. A map from 1776 shows the inn's importance.
The Three Pigeons was one of three main landmarks in Hudson County, New Jersey. People often used it to describe how close things were. It is also said that George Washington visited the Three Pigeons. This likely happened before and during the American Revolution.
The Three Pigeons During the American Revolution
The Three Pigeons played a role in several events during the American Revolution. On March 14, 1779, a British loyalist officer, Jacob Van Buskirk, learned that American troops were at the inn. He sent his soldiers to capture them. However, the American rebels escaped into the nearby woods. After a chase and some fighting, two rebels were captured.
Months later, during the Battle of Paulus Hook, Major Light Horse Harry Lee used the inn. He was trying to cross the Hackensack River with prisoners. When he found no boats, he had to turn back. Lee then gathered 50 of his lost soldiers at the Three Pigeons. He assigned them to protect the sides of his group. Later, Lee's troops were attacked by loyalists. But Lee led his troops and 159 prisoners safely away.
The Three Pigeons was also part of a secret mission. On October 20, Lee met with John Champe. Champe was a double agent chosen by George Washington and Lee. Their plan was to capture the American traitor Benedict Arnold. Lee sent Champe up the road toward the Three Pigeons. He gave Champe a head start before sending soldiers after him. Just above the inn, Champe and the soldiers saw each other. Champe was chased but managed to escape by jumping into the Hudson River. A British boat picked him up, and he claimed to be seeking protection in New York City.
During the war, a British supporter was captured and killed at the Three Pigeons. He had been trying to visit his family.
After the Revolution
After the American Revolution, the Three Pigeons continued to be important. It was used as a voting place for local elections. From 1804 to 1806, mayoral elections would start there.
In 1852, a well-known businessman and politician, James Gore King, gave a speech at the Three Pigeons. He supported General Winfield Scott for president. The inn was also used as a landmark in official documents and land sales throughout the 1800s. Finally, in 1893, the Three Pigeons building was torn down.
Images for kids
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Map from 1873.
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Six Corners intersection, where Three Pigeons stood to the east, or the right side of the street.
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Three Pigeons on Hackensack Turnpike, from a map published in 1872.
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"Light Horse Harry" Henry Lee III.
