Arnold's Tavern

Arnold's Tavern, also known as Jacob Arnold's Tavern, the Old Arnold Tavern, and the Duncan House, was a historic inn and public building in Morristown, New Jersey. Established by Samuel Arnold around 1740 and substantially developed during the eighteenth century, it stood beside Morristown Green, near the county courthouse, jail, and local churches. Its location made it an important gathering place in the small colonial community, where commercial, political, legal, and social activity overlapped. The tavern became especially significant during the American Revolutionary War. From January through May 1777, General George Washington used Arnold's Tavern as his headquarters while the Continental Army operated in the Morristown area and received military supplies from the Hibernia mines. Washington's troops were quartered elsewhere in homes and camps, but the tavern served as a center for councils, meetings, and communications. An expanded public hall or ballroom provided space for gatherings involving Washington, senior officers, and other visitors. The building was also the venue for Benedict Arnold's first trial in 1780, adding to its association with the political and military history of the Revolution. Samuel Arnold's son Jacob inherited the property after Samuel's death in 1764. Because Jacob was still young, the estate was managed for a period by Thomas Kinney under arrangements made by Jacob's mother, Phoebe Arnold. Jacob became proprietor and innkeeper in 1775. He was later associated with Morris County's militia and served as sheriff, while also participating in local industrial activity. The tavern's role changed during the nineteenth century. In 1863, Philip H. Hoffman and Abraham L. Cross acquired the property, and it was remodeled in 1864 with stores on the lower floor and lodging or boarding rooms above. By 1882, the building contained grocery, clothing, and jewelry businesses, with apartments on the upper floors. In 1886, Hoffman planned to replace it with a new commercial structure. Morristown historian Julia Keese Colles intervened and arranged for the building to be moved from the Green to her estate on Mount Kemble Avenue, preserving it from demolition. After relocation, the building was expanded and used as a residence known as the Colonial House before being acquired for hospital use. All Souls' Hospital opened there on December 18, 1891. The former ballroom was adapted as a chapel and the dining room as a hospital ward. The institution was chaired by Morristown lawyer Paul Revere, a great-grandson of the Revolutionary figure of the same name. A further hospital building was constructed nearby before 1899. The historic structure was destroyed by fire in April 1918. Although the physical building no longer survives, Arnold's Tavern remains part of Morristown's Revolutionary-era heritage. Its history has been documented in local historical works, commemorated through historical-marker material, and included in museum programming concerning the region's medical and civic past. The name also survives in the historical memory of the former road known as the Road to Jacob Arnold's, now associated with the Fosterfields area.

Samuel Arnold established the tavern near the west side of Morristown Green around 1740. By 1750, he had erected a small but sturdy building with a broad porch, compact rooms, fireplaces, and wooden floors. The surrounding Green functioned as an open grazing area and was bordered by important civic and religious institutions. In a community of roughly 250 people, the tavern was a natural venue for lodging, trade, conversation, and public business. Samuel died in 1764, leaving the property to his son Jacob. Because Jacob was still a minor, his mother, Phoebe Arnold, placed management of the farm in the hands of Thomas Kinney until 1775. Jacob then became the innkeeper and proprietor. He also worked with Kinney on the Speedwell slitting mill, later served as a Morris County sheriff, and held a military role as a Revolutionary-era militia officer. The building's most important historical period came during the Revolution. From January 6 to May 28, 1777, George Washington used Arnold's Tavern as his headquarters in Morristown. The tavern had acquired an extension containing a large public hall, and Washington used the premises for councils and meetings while troops stayed in local homes or camped in the Loantaka Valley. The tavern was associated with meetings involving Washington and senior Continental officers. In 1780, it was also the site of Benedict Arnold's first trial. During the nineteenth century, the property shifted from an inn to a mixed commercial and residential building. Hoffman and Abraham L. Cross bought it in 1863 and remodeled it the following year, installing two stores below and boarding rooms above. By 1882, grocery, clothing, and jewelry businesses occupied the first floor, while apartments occupied the upper levels. When Philip H. Hoffman decided in 1886 to replace the structure with the Hoffman Building, historian Julia Keese Colles organized its preservation. The building was moved to her Mount Kemble Avenue estate, reportedly with teams of oxen, although the exact moving method is described differently in historical accounts. Colles later renovated the structure into the Colonial House, a residence for summer boarders. In 1890 it was sold at public auction to the Catholic All Souls' Hospital Association. All Souls' Hospital opened on December 18, 1891, after the building had been expanded. Its former ballroom became a chapel and its dining room a hospital ward. Paul Revere, a Morristown lawyer and descendant of the Revolutionary Paul Revere, chaired the hospital association. A second hospital building was added on the east side of Mount Kemble Avenue before 1899. The original relocated building was destroyed by fire in April 1918. The tavern's original site on Morristown Green was later occupied by the Hoffman Building, which itself was eventually replaced by later commercial development. Despite the loss of the structure, Arnold's Tavern continues to be remembered through local histories, historical-marker resources, books, and museum exhibitions. Its legacy combines colonial hospitality, Revolutionary War administration, nineteenth-century preservation, and the evolution of a historic property into a medical institution.

• 1918

  Building destroyed by fire

  [1]Arnold's Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  The former tavern and hospital building was destroyed by fire in April.

• 1891

  All Souls' Hospital opens

  [1]Arnold's Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  The relocated building began operating as All Souls' Hospital.

• 1886

  Building relocated for preservation

  [1]Arnold's Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  Julia Keese Colles saved the tavern from demolition by moving it to her Mount Kemble Avenue estate.

• 1864

  Commercial remodeling

  [1]Arnold's Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  After its acquisition by Hoffman and Abraham L. Cross, the building was remodeled with stores and boarding rooms.

• 1780

  Benedict Arnold trial

  [1]Arnold's Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  The tavern hosted Benedict Arnold's first trial.

• 1777

  Washington headquarters period

  [1]Arnold's Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  George Washington used Arnold's Tavern as his Morristown headquarters from January through May.

• 1775

  Jacob Arnold becomes proprietor

  [1]Arnold's Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  Jacob Arnold began operating the tavern as its innkeeper and proprietor.

• 1764

  Jacob Arnold inherits the property

  [1]Arnold's Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  After Samuel Arnold's death, the tavern passed to his son Jacob, subject initially to management arrangements made by Jacob's mother.

• 1750

  Permanent tavern building erected

  [1]Arnold's Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  Samuel Arnold built a small, sturdy tavern building beside the Green.

• 1740

  Tavern established

  [1]Arnold's Tavernen.wikipedia.org

  Samuel Arnold established the tavern near Morristown Green.

A colonial-era tavern and civic gathering place whose historical importance derives from its role in Morristown's community life, its association with George Washington's 1777 headquarters, and its later preservation and conversion into a hospital.

• 1891

  Conversion to hospital useStrategy

  Background

  After relocation and expansion, the historic property was acquired by the Catholic All Souls' Hospital Association.

  Action taken

  The building was converted into All Souls' Hospital, with its ballroom used as a chapel and dining room adapted as a hospital ward.

  Aftermath

  The site became part of Morristown's medical history until the building was destroyed by fire in 1918.

  Source

• 1886

  Preservation relocationStrategy

  Background

  The tavern faced demolition when plans were made to replace it with the Hoffman Building.

  Action taken

  Julia Keese Colles arranged for the entire structure to be moved from Morristown Green to her Mount Kemble Avenue estate.

  Aftermath

  The building survived temporarily, was later adapted as a residence and hospital, and ultimately burned in 1918.

  Source

1. 1Arnold's Tavernen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Arnold's Tavern — Washington's Headquarters from January 6 to May 28, 1777hmdb.org