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The Smithtown Historical Society
| Epenetus Smith Tavern |
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King Pedlar |
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The oldest part of this structure—the wing on the
left—shows evidence of a late 17th century date, while
the main portion was built about 1740. By 1750 Epenetus
Smith was proprietor; in his time the Tavern was a short distance
west of its present site at 211 Middle Country Road.
Epenetus Smith was active in civic affairs and, by all accounts, his
establishment served as a lively hub for social and political
activity.
With the advent of the Brooklyn to Sag Harbor stagecoach route in 1772, the Tavern became a stop in the 3-day journey, and during the Revolutionary War British soldiers availed themselves of Mr. Smith’s hospitality, often without paying. The Tavern was altered during the 19th and 20th centuries— the dormers, for instance, are a 20th century addition—yet still evokes a feeling of Colonial America. |
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The Caleb Smith House: Home of the Smithtown Historical Society
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© The Smithtown Historical Society: 5 North Country Road Smithtown, NY 11787