Robert Koppenhaver writes in "Historic Hunterdon Hostelry: Tavern Trackers" posted on njskylands.com that "the terms 'tavern,' 'inn,' and 'hotel,' though technically different, have sometimes been freely interchanged, and some early writers referred to them as 'houses' and 'ordinaries.' Whatever the designation, beyond their role providing hospitality to travelers, they were vital to the social interaction of the day."

The first tavern in New Jersey that historians can name, as noted on njpinebarrnes.com, was Lyons Ordinary, founded on the banks of the Passaic River in Newark around May of 1666. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams were among the notables who quaffed at the Indian Queen Tavern on the corner of Albany and Water streets in New Brunswick, which was built in 1729. John Eveland built a tavern, an early stagecoach stop near the mill along the Spruce Run, in Hunterdon County in 1760. And Arnold's Tavern in Morristown served as Washington's headquarters in 1777.



According to thrillist.com, the oldest continuously operating bar in New Jersey is the Sewell Inn established in Barnsboro in 1720. Now known as the Barnsboro Inn, it's still in business wetting the whistles of patrons who frequent the Mantua Township establishment.



So, there's no doubt that New Jersey's heritage of "watering holes" is a rich one.

But, it should be noted that many well-known liquid refreshments have been brewed and bottled here, too. South Jersey is home to a number of wineries that date back more than a century, including Renault Vineyards in Egg Harbor City that produced its first products in 1870. The website oldbreweries.com, points out that the William Peter Brewing Co. opened in Union City in 1889. A better-known business, Anheuser Busch, has been brewing Budweiser in Newark since 1951.

Apparently, the eyes didn't have it.

New Jersey played a big part in prohibition, even if it was more on the popular side than legal. Scenes of bootleg whiskey being cooked in stills in wooded sections of the state are almost as prevalent as the more well-known ones from Appalachia. Marie Javins, writing for AOL Travel, lays to rest the common myth that rumrunners signaled "all clear" to boats off New Jersey's coast with lights in the eyes of Margate's Lucy the Elephant.



From the largest city to the smallest 'burg, bars and taverns have served as gathering places, social spots. Sadly, the bars where you walk in, sit down and just have a drink and a conversation are shrinking in numbers; they are being replaced by places where folks stare at the big screen TVs hung on the walls. This occasional beer drinker believes the ambience that's being lost is better than any bank of broadcasts might provide.



One of my wife's favorite memories of our dating years, mine too, was visiting the old Homestead Tap in Highland Park. The place had no jukebox, one television and a menu that featured a liver and onions special. But the highlight was being invited to join in a heated argument as to which were better, American or foreign cars, and participating as welcomed friends. It was like being allowed to join a really neat club. And experiences like those are getting harder and harder to find.



Here are vintage photos of bars and taverns in New Jersey. Be sure to click on the captions button to read more about these rapidly disappearing but unforgettable landmarks.

Can't get enough? Here's a link to last year's gallery of bars and taverns



Coming soon: animals. It's almost impossible to take a bad picture of an animal, so we're looking for the cutest, the oddest and the most memorable. If you have photos of pets and other animals taken before 1986 we'd love to see them and possibly use them in a gallery or Glimpse of History. Email your jpgs to ghatala@starledger.com.



