Old ’76 House: Great Food, But Some Diners Miss the History

By Bob Nesoff

There’s a very old saying that often “People can’t see the forest for the trees.” There is amazing history to be seen and enjoyed from New York’s Long Island to nearby Rockland County. Hardly a step can be taken without finding the nation’s history under foot.

Just a bit more than an hour of the famed beached of The Rockaways in Queens County is Tappan, New York and the Old ’76 House with more history about the founding of our country that any place else. George Washington (who in today’s world could have earned a ton of frequent diner miles) and his officers dined for lunch. Lafayette, the young Frenchman who came to assist the budding Americans, was there with Washington.

So was British Maj. John Andre, the spy who collaborated with Benedict Arnold to surrender West Point to the King’s troops.

But oh, so many people who come from all over for one of the tavern’s famous meals are totally unaware of the part it played in the history of our country.

Rarely do I write in the first person, but in this case, it is appropriate. I enjoy the steaks and varied menu the ’76 House has been serving since 1686. The food is enticing and my wallet never complains about the prices. But aside from the food, the draw is the history that has taken place here and is missed by so many diners.

On a recent trip, we decided to take some photos of pictures adorning the mantle of the dining room’s fireplace. A polite gentleman at the next table thought we were taking a selfie and offered to take one for us. We explained that we were taking a photo of the watercolor of one picture turned upside down. They had never noticed that of the three watercolors, the one on the right was upside down. We enlightened them.

With the war over, Washington and several of his officers were enjoying lunch in the dining room when the General spotted the picture on the right. It was of his old friend-turned traitor, Benedict Arnold, Washington quietly got up, walked across the room, turned Arnold’s picture upside down and returned to his companions. That very same picture, today is still on the mantle upside down. It’s in a new frame, but the picture is original.

The diners were fascinated and asked if there was more to the history of the ’76 House. Never ask someone who likes to talk if there is more. What we failed to mention was that there are ghosts inhabiting the tavern. A young couple was having dinner and their picture taken. They called Rob Norden, the Tavern Keeper and asked who was the woman who photobombed them. A startled Norden told them that was one of the ghosts.

Maj. John Andre was held prisoner in the ’76 House until he was taken across the street and put on trial. According to law that survives until today, any combatant caught in civilian clothes, or at least out of uniform, is automatically considered a spy. The penalty for a spy is death.

Andre was brought back to the ’76 House to await execution. He requested to be executed by firing squad as befits a gentleman rather than hanging, usually the penalty for brigands and other criminals. Andre was hanged. He was buried on a hill behind the tavern until 1821 when he was exhumed and interred in Westminster Abby in London.

Through all this, Andre still had the respect of many Revolutionary leaders including Alexander Hamilton who opposed his execution. On the back of a large stone monument at the execution site, there is a comment by General Washington: “He was more unfortunate and a gentleman, rather than a criminal.”

So much more history to be told about the tavern and I will do so in coming issues.