By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
On Nov. 25, Nelson Preservation Associates, Inc. (NPA) — a non-profit organization committed to the preservation of historic Nelson, NY — completed the purchase of The Old Drovers Tavern at Nelson located at 3307 US Rt. 20.
Situated at the northeast corner of the Nelson four corners, the property is considered historically and architecturally significant.
According to a press release issued by NPA, the organization plans to preserve the history of the building and physically rehabilitate the entire property to create economic and community-use opportunities.
Originally known as The Sickle and Sheath Drover’s Tavern, the building was constructed around 1804 as a tavern for cattle drovers on the Cherry Valley Turnpike (US Rt. 20), which opened a few years earlier.
The tavern changed hands multiple times throughout the mid-19th century.
In May 1874, the Cazenovia Republican reported that John James & Son had acquired the property with the intention of making extensive repairs and opening a store. According to the NPA press release, probable repairs included a reconstruction of the hotel facade to include two of the present-day storefronts and a canopy. The store sold hardware and tinware fabricated by John James’ son William T. James. The building also served as the village post office.
After William James’ death in 1917, his son Bryan partnered with F. J. Hamilton to open a feed store in one half of the building. After the post office closed in 1934, Hamilton opened an antiques store in the other half. Bryan, along with his wife, Anna, who served as bookkeeper, continued to sell antiques and live in the building until Bryan’s death in 1972, at which time former Assemblyman Bill Magee purchased the property. The building continued to function as an antiques store and auction house until recently.
The existing structure is a six-bay, side-gabled, clapboard-sided building with multiple windows at different levels on the second story. The first story includes a full-length canopy and three historic storefronts, two of which have center doors and flanking multi-light windows.
“Our architect, Carl Stearns, a well know preservation professional in the region, identifies this building as one of the few remaining drovers taverns still retaining its original features and floor plan,” said NPA President and CEO Nancy Demyttenaere. “Many of them have been converted to residential properties, but this one retains lodging rooms upstairs and commercial spaces downstairs just as it did in 1874.”
According to Demyttenaere, the building’s location at a major intersection along the historic Cherry Valley Turnpike also contributes to its significance.
“It was a stagecoach stop along the [turnpike] used by settlers moving west to create new towns and communities,” she said. “Weary travelers would stay a day or two on their journeys west or east. If you had mail waiting for you at the post office inside, your name would be published in the local newspaper to come pick it up. If you were driving cattle east to the stockyards outside Schenectady, you could only move them 10-12 miles a day without them losing weight. So, to feed and rest them, you’d stop for the night at the tavern, have a good meal, get a beer or two and go upstairs to the ballroom for some music and dancing. If you needed a doctor, if you needed to hire a day laborer, if you needed most anything, the Old Drovers Tavern was the place to find it. So we’re simply creating an opportunity for it to be what it always has been, the heartbeat of Nelson.”
NPA was formed in Nov. 2019 for the purpose of preserving the tavern.
The all-volunteer board of directors includes Demyttenaere, Laine Gilmore, Rosalyn Bandy, Patricia Groff, Tracy Carman and Carl Stearns.
According to Demyttenaere, the organization’s primary goal was acquiring the property.
“We had great support throughout the process from Melissa Zomro of the Small Business Association, and Jasper Massey, a loan officer of AmeriCU to help us organize funding for the purchase,” she said. “We also held our first open house on site last fall to help familiarize townsfolk about the significance of the property and our preservation plans. Then COVID-19 hit and just about everything came to a standstill. Fortunately, AmeriCU remained committed to the long-term gains of the project and stuck with us through the economic uncertainty. Three board members also provided loans needed to complete funding and we were finally able to complete the purchase the day before Thanksgiving. So, we all have a lot to celebrate this season.”
NPA’s next task is getting the building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which would enable the organization to apply for public and private grants for renovation and revitalization work.
“The Town of Nelson can be proud of the fact we will have three such important properties within its bounds: the Welsh Church, the Methodist Church and now the Old Drovers Tavern at Nelson,” said Demyttenaere.
NPA plans to spend the winter finalizing the studies and planning documents required for the physical work on the property to begin. The organization will also be conducting a community survey to gain input on potential commercial uses for both the historic tavern and old barn.
Demyttenaere said that although the organization has a basic idea of its plans for the property, it will take about a year of research, design and review for the final vision to come together.
So far, NPA has identified the need to restore the barn to its original form and character — that of a 32 by 80 foot, two-story English barn. Once rehabilitated, the barn will be outfitted to accommodate the studio apartments currently in the main building, as well as a small commercial section in the end facing Rt. 20.
“Then we will turn our attention to restoring the old tavern and re-establishing it as a fun place to gather for residents and visitors alike,” Demyttenaere said.
NPA has already proposed several ideas, including the creation of a family restaurant reminiscent of the old Nelson Inn, a Victorian-style saloon, and a cigar bar.
The organization also plans to offer programming opportunities and special events throughout the year to celebrate Nelson and its history.
In an effort to expand its understanding of the building’s history, NPA is asking community members to submit any family stories or old photographs of the property to [email protected].
To learn more about the property and the preservation plan, visit olddroverstavern.com or the “The Old Drovers Tavern at Nelson” Facebook page.
