Yelverton Inn and Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Yelverton Inn and Store
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Inn building in 2007
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| Location | Chester, NY |
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| Nearest city | Middletown |
| Area | 1.8 acres (7,056 m²) |
| Built | 1765, 1841 |
| Architectural style | Colonial, Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002733 |
| Added to NRHP | 1980 |
The Yelverton Inn and Store is a collection of four old buildings in Chester, New York, United States. These buildings are found on NY 94. The group includes the original inn, built in 1765, along with its barn and shed. It also features a store from 1841, which locals call Durland's. This store is a rare example of a Greek Revival style commercial building. Both the inn and the store have been important landmarks in Chester for many years. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, which means they are officially recognized as important historical sites.
These buildings have a rich history. Famous people like Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and George Washington stayed there at different times. They are great examples of the building styles and periods they come from.
Contents
Exploring the Buildings
The inn is the oldest building here. It's a two-story, L-shaped house that faces Main Street. It sits next to the First Presbyterian Church of Chester. A smaller part of the building was later surrounded by a larger section. This created the building you see today. Later, an enclosed porch was added. Two Federal style doorways were also put in during the early 1800s.
Inside the inn, you can still see the original floors, doors, and most of the decorative trim. The inside doors have a special "tau-cross" design. This design uses molding around flat panels. A fireplace in the main bedroom was likely added around 1795.
Behind the inn, there is a wooden shed and a barn. The shed has a unique decoration: 17 round holes drilled below the roof's edge. The barn is three stories tall. Its lower part is made of brick and stone, while the upper part has shingles.
The store building was first put up on Christmas Day in 1841. It was finished the following spring. An overhang and the front pillars were added later that same year. The west side of the store was once a separate building. After it was connected, it was used as a storage room.
A Look at History
Records show that John Yelverton bought the land where these buildings stand around 1755. The year 1765 is believed to be when the inn was built. This date seems correct from his will, written two years later. His will mentions his son Abijan as the "innkeeper."
Important Meetings and Visitors
The inn saw its first major historical event on September 3, 1774. On that day, local voters met there. They chose Henry Wisner to represent them at the First Continental Congress. This was an important meeting where leaders from the American colonies discussed their future. Two years later, Henry Wisner voted for America's independence. However, he could not sign the Declaration of Independence. He had to attend to his duties in the New York provincial congress. During the Revolutionary War, local militia (citizen soldiers) camped and gathered on a nearby hillside.
Towards the end of the war, on July 27, 1782, George Washington stayed at the inn. He was traveling from Philadelphia back to his headquarters in Newburgh. He was going to meet with Count Rochambeau, a French general. This event was remembered 125 years later. A special plaque was placed on the building by a local group called the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Solving Land Disputes
After the war, a big local land disagreement was settled at the inn. Earlier in the 1700s, two large land grants had been made. These grants covered most of what is now Orange County. They were called the Wawayanda Patent and the Cheesecocks Patent. The Wawayanda Patent did not clearly state where its northern border was. Over the years, different owners claimed the same pieces of land. This disagreement often led to legal battles and sometimes even violence. But it was never fully solved.
The Cheesecocks patentees believed the border should be a straight line. The Wawayanda group thought it followed mountains and ridges. About 52,000 acres (20,800 hectares) of land were at stake. A court ordered a special group to hear the case. This group held its trial in a nearby barn. The lawyers involved likely stayed at the inn. Among those representing the Wawayanda side, who eventually won, were Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. Both were very famous lawyers and politicians in early American history. Elias Boudinot and Ezra L'Hommedieu were also there.
