One of the most notable buildings on Main Street is the limestone structure standing opposite the corner of Colonial Avenue. It was here on "The King's Highway", that ran between Pennsylvania and New England, that Francis Baird built his tavern in 1766. He brought masons and carpenters from New York City to what was then for the most part an unsettled valley. He constructed it as an inn to serve Colonial travelers, and the inn and store served a vital role in community life. Many notables of the time stopped here, including George Washington, who recorded in his diary the purchase of some grog here in 1783. On December 6, 1782, the Major General of the French Army, serving under Count Rochambeau, stayed all night here with his aides. He records this in his published "Travels in North American in the years 1780, '81, '82":
"Warwick, where I slept, a pretty large place for so wild a county.. I lodged here in a very good inn kept by Mr. Smith [ed. note: Mr. Smith bought the tavern from Francis Baird] …The American army having for two years past had their winter quarters near West Point, Mr. Smith imagined with reason that this road would be more frequented than that of Paramus…" - "The Baird Family" by Ferdinand Van DerVeer Sanford in Warwick Historical Papers, vol. 1.
The tavern went through a succession of owners, including for many years W. B. Sayer who furnished the "Washington Room" as it was known then with many relics of the past era. until Mrs. Elizabeth Sanford Van Leer donated funds for its purchase by the Society in 1991. It was gradually restored by the Society to its original appearance as a colonial tavern and inn, as nearly as possible, and furnished appropriately.
The archive of the Society contains one of the original financial ledgers of the inn in 1785 and 86, when it was run by a Mr. Smith. It was presented as a gift by Eugene Wright in memory of his father and mother Betty and Eugene Wright. Photocopies of an earlier ledger now in private hands also are owned by the Society.
Baird's Tavern, Marquis de Chastellux, Revolutionary War, Washington, George, Washington, Martha
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