Bristol, Amos, Tavern
Why it's listed
Built around 1800 in the hamlet of West Meredith, this two-story, five-bay tavern sits beside County Route 14, which follows the old Susquehanna Turnpike, a toll road linking Catskill with Unadilla. Amos Bristol, born in Connecticut in 1759, kept the tavern, held licenses over several decades, and also farmed and ran a distillery and ashery. The frame is post and beam with plank walls, clad in clapboard under a wood-shingled side gable roof. Inside, the four-room-per-floor plan survives, with corner fireplaces, original mantels, paneling and a built-in corner cupboard in the tavern room. The upstairs front room served as the meeting hall of Aurora Lodge No. 227 from 1813 to 1834, and it keeps portions of red and black Masonic stenciling. John Bristol, a carpenter and Amos's brother, is attributed as builder. Stone walls, an orchard and pasture trees preserve part of the surrounding farm landscape. The building is valued for its integrity, its turnpike trade history and its Masonic decoration.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is an outstanding example of a Federal period tavern in Delaware County, retaining its original plan, finishes and exterior materials. It was one of several taverns on the turnpike and was operated by Amos Bristol, a prominent early settler. It also housed the Aurora Lodge No. 227 Masonic hall from 1813 to 1834, with rare surviving early stenciling.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 00001526, listed December 13, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Cty Rte 14, West Meredith |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | December 13, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00001526 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c1800-c1845 |
| Architect / builder | John Bristol, attributed |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a single family dwelling; original plan largely intact with a contemporary rear ell addition and a non-historic barn/garage. |
| Acreage | 11 |
| Coordinates | 42.34812, -75.01383 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 00001526.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4747838
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.