Page 34 - MidJersey Business - July-August 2014

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Time Frame

A LOOK BACK AT HISTORICAL MIDJERSEY BUSINESSES

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LOCATION: Princeton : 1759
OPENEDSIG: One of the
NIFICANCE oldest businesses in New Jersey, the N
assau Inn has a long history and tradition that’s
intertwined with the Revolutionary War and P
rinceton University.

EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY

The Nassau Inn has hosted special events for more than 250 years

L

ong before it was known Students and townsmen drank and de- depicts the pony-riding character, which
for weddings and corporate bated in the taproom, while the early guest still hangs behind the bar.

events, the Nassau Inn
list included names like Paul Revere, Rob- The inn moved to Palmer Square after
was a central meeting ert Morris, and Thomas Paine. Throughout closing the Nassau Street location in

place where townspeople the Revolutionary War, members of the 1937 and the College Inn was re-named
debated issues that likely Continental Congress made the inn a pop- the Nassau Inn shortly thereafter. The

included the seeds of revolution.
ular pit stop on their way to Philadelphia, popular Yankee Doodle Tap Room in the
Judge Thomas Leonard irst built the where the Declaration of Independence new location is framed by heavy beams

original Nassau Tavern at 52 Nassau Street was signed in 1776.
and solid oak furniture that’s reminiscent
in 1756. When he died in 1759, Leonard’s Many years later, the establishment was of the old colonial taproom the founding

elegant residence became a hostelry, named touched by celebrity again when Norman fathers frequented. Princeton students and

the College Inn by its new owner. The irst Rockwell painted the Yankee Doodle sign faculty—including Albert Einstein—have
proprietor was Christopher Beekman, who at the entrance of the new establishment made a custom of carving their initials into

turned the inn into a Princeton staple.
and a added famous 13-foot mural that
the tabletops there.

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