Bucks Lehigh Valley Historic Tavern Trail

America250: Continental Army Base and Field Hospital at the Sun Inn in Bethlehem

Sat, Oct 24 · 1:00 PM EDT

Tavern at the Sun Inn, 564 Main St, Bethlehem, PA, US

We'll continue our exploration of how the Lehigh Valley contributed to the Revolutionary War effort as we visit the Tavern at the Sun Inn in Bethlehem.

The Sun Inn opened its doors to weary colonial travelers in 1760 (construction began in 1758 which is typically cited as the Sun Inn's founding year). It was built by the Moravian community that settled Bethlehem as a "public house of entertainment." Given its location on the way between Philadelphia and New York and the fact that it was the first inn in the new world to offer private suite lodgings, the Sun Inn soon became a favored stop for 18th-century dignitaries.

George and Martha Washington were two of its most famous guests. Martha's suite has been re-created in the Sun Inn's museum. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Ethan Allen, Alexander Hamilton and Marquis de Lafayette (who did not enjoy his short time at the Sun Inn) were some of the other noteworthy guests to stay here.

Some guests apparently never left. The Sun Inn is said to be haunted and hosts Ghost and Spirit Tours every fall. We'll talk about these ghost stories but since this is part of our year-long America250 celebration, we'll focus this meetup on the Sun Inn's role during the Revolutionary War, when it served as a field hospital for wounded Continental Army troops, especially after the Battle of Brandywine, and a de facto military base, with 900 army wagons encamped behind the building at one point.

At least 14 members of the Continental Congress met here in September 1777 after Philadelphia was evacuated. Congress eventually reconvened in Lancaster then York.

Lunch is at 1 p.m., optional drink at the bar at 12:30. We can only have up to 15 people. To limit late cancellations and no-shows, there is a $6 fee to attend this meetup. Funds collected will pay for a shared appetizer course and defray the cost of running this meetup group.

We will be able to order off the regular menu and pay by separate checks.

See you there!

America250: Ghosts of the Revolution at McCoole's Red Lion Inn

Sat, Oct 31 · 1:00 PM EDT

McCoole's at the Historic Red Lion Inn, 4 S Main St, Quakertown, PA, US

Our America250 celebration continues with a special Halloween-themed Meetup as we return to McCoole's at the Historic Red Lion Inn in Quakertown to learn about the ghosts that haunt this historic venue.

McCoole's dates to about 1747, when it was opened as a colonial-era tavern by Walter McCoole. With all the history this building has seen--the Liberty Bell evacuation in 1777, the Fries Rebellion in 1799, the Underground Railroad throughout the early to mid 19th century-- it's not surprising that there'd still be a few ghosts hanging around the place.

Hoods of people's hoodies have mysteriously been yanked, bottles have been knocked off their shelves behind the bar, ghostly orbs and spectral images have been seen, and there have even been repeated encounters with a ghostly patron in one of the ladies restrooms at McCoole's as well as a "ghost child" in both the tavern and neighboring arts center.

We'll hear these scary ghost stories directly from the owner and staff who have experienced them. So get your Halloween started right with some local history and tales of the paranormal over drinks and lunch.

See you there!

America250: Private Guided Tour of the Bachmann Publick House in Easton

Sat, Nov 14 · 11:00 AM EST

1753 Bachmann Publick House, 169 Northampton St, Easton, PA 18042, USA, Easton, PA, US

Our exploration of our local historic taverns' roles in the Revolutionary War continues with this very special event as we take a guided private tour of the Bachmann Publick House, now a museum, in downtown Easton.

Built in 1753 by Jacob and Katrina Bachmann, the Bachmann Publick House is Easton's oldest standing building and likely the first stone building built in the town. About 80% of the current structure is thought to be original.

George Taylor, the Lehigh Valley's only signer of the Declaration of Independence, owned the tavern briefly during the 1760s, when the tavern would have served as a courthouse, until the original Northampton County Courthouse was completed in 1766. Taylor was a justice of the peace in Northampton County during that time.

In the 1770s, the Bachmann Publick House was a hub of organizing activities for supporters of the rebel cause with local patriots Jacob Abols and Robert Levers holding strategy sessions there. At least four signers of the Declaration of Independence stayed at the Bachmann Publick House, including John Adams, William Ellery and William Whipple, in addition to George Taylor.

The museum now features an immersive exhibition titled "General Happiness of the People: Easton as a Revolutionary Capital." From the website:

"Through guided tours, projections, soundscapes, and replica artifacts, the exhibition brings the 1753 Bachmann Publick House to life as a vibrant eighteenth-century community space where neighbors gathered, news spread, and the American Revolution took shape.

The exhibition explores Pennsylvania’s early constitutional ideal of ensuring the “general happiness of the people” through the lived experiences of Northampton County residents during the eighteenth century. In the building’s historic 1753 courtroom, visitors encounter stories of people who came seeking justice, revealing how law, daily life, and governance were deeply connected.

General Happiness of the People also broadens the Revolutionary narrative by highlighting voices often left out of traditional histories, including women, laboring people, pacifists, loyalists, and enslaved individuals. Together, these stories offer a fuller, more human portrait of Easton and Northampton County at the nation’s founding."

The tour will be conducted by a historical interpreter and should take about an hour. They allow up to 15 people for private tours so that is the maximum sign-ups allowed for the meetup. We do have to pay for this so there is $10 sign-up fee to attend. If you don't wish to sign up via meetup, please contact me for alternate arrangements. You will need to pay in advance though, I'm not saving anyone a seat on the promise that you'll pay me when you get there.

As this is no longer a working tavern and hasn't been since the 1970s, no food or drink will be served. However, we'll repair to Pearly Baker's Ale House for lunch after the tour.

See you there!