The Old Yellow Tavern of Norwich, NY - Part 4

The Old Yellow Tavern, and Allied History of Norwich

C.R. Johnson

Norwich Sun, March 13, 1920

Part 4

 

Prohibition had not been thought of and whiskey was cheap at 3c a drink, and though a man got gloriously drunk, he was seldom consigned to the lock-up to sober off.  The liquor was plentiful, for it was distilled in the village, and those who ran the distillery had not learned how to "doctor" their product.  It was the "pure stuff," and even some ministers drank it as freely as their flocks.  It was told of pastor Bogue of the Presbyterian church of Gilbertsville, that ever Saturday he sent his man of all work to the distillery to that village for two quarts of whiskey, and that that amount was good for the two sermons of the next day; one for the forenoon and the other for the evening.

 

Mr. Edmunds continued to carry on the tavern for some years and during the time he bought from Judge Steere a good sized lot adjoining his tavern lot, and on it built a large two story dwelling house, but finished only the large dining room and the kitchen, with three small bedrooms in the rear, and the front room on the south of the hall.  At that time Perez Randall and his family occupied a part of the house and Mr. Edmunds cultivated the large garden and the grounds. They lived there in that way until 1825.  Mr. Edmunds in the mean time had sold the "Yellow Tavern" to John Cooke, who continued it as a tavern for some years and sold to Capt. James Perkins about 1819-20, who continued it as a tavern for a short time and sold to Judge Charles York, who changed it somewhat and made it his residence, where he lived for a year or two and sold to Judge Smith M. Purdy.  The new  house and lot next south, Mr. Edmunds sold to George L. Rider, who made some changes and occupied it as his home for many years, until both he and his wife died.  During the repairs Mr. Rider found out that a man in Guilford (as I remember it) had wall paper for a room on which was pictured an East Indian tiger hunt.  Mr. Rider bought the paper and it was hung upon the wall of his front hall.  It was said that he paid $25.00 for the paper.  It remained in sight until the house was removed to make room for the elegant brick mansion built by his son, George Rider some years later and is now the residence of Charles G. Brooks, and one of the finest buildings in Norwich at this time [1920].  It is 49 S. Broad street.

 

The "Old Yellow House" remained in the possession of Judge Purdy until he died.  His only son, Charles M. Purdy, began the practice of medicine in 1848, when the house was divided.  Judge Purdy and his wife occupying the south part and Dr. Charles, his family, and office the north part.  In 1870 Judge Purdy died, as did also his wife a few years later, and the estate fell to Dr. Charles, and the south part was rented.

 

In the course of time, the wife of Dr. Purdy died and later, he married again.  After some years he also died, and the property was sold to H. Oscar Hale and his son Charles F. Hale, and both families occupy the house--the father the south side and the son the north side, as they have done for some years. They were engaged in the feed business until last fall, their store house being on the rear of the lot where it abuts on the D.L. & W.R.R.  At that time they sold the business to the Stellwagen Milling Company.

 

To be continued