Timothy Keeler opened his tavern to visitors in 1772. It became a hub for Revolutionary activities in the town of Ridgefield, of which Timothy was a chief and ardent supporter.
Because of Keeler's patriotism, his home and business were targeted by the British during the Battle of Ridgefield in 1777. The Keeler Tavern still sports a baseball-sized cannonball in a corner post.
For fifty years in the first half of the 20th century, the noted architect Cass Gilbert and his family owned and lived here. Gilbert designed the United States Supreme Court building and the state capitols of Minnesota and West Virginia, as well as many other well known buildings. By 1966, some Ridgefield residents had raised enough to buy the tavern and convert it to a historical museum.
The Fountain Inn is next door to Keeler Tavern. Today it is a bed and breakfast inn. In Revolutionary times it was owned by David Hoyt, a cousin of Timothy Keeler. Hoyt was a Tory, but he rode out to the British encampment and persuaded them to stop firing at his cousin's tavern, fearful that Hoyt's own house might be struck by an errant cannonball.
The Cass Gilbert fountain is at the intersection of Routes 33 (Main Street) and 35 (West Lane), across the street from Keeler Tavern and The Fountain Inn. Gilbert designed it around 1915 as a gift for the town of Ridgefield.
2 comments:
Jack, thank you for the history lesson and the photos of these wonderful buildings. Our history here is much more recent. My wife took books to some of the original pioneers here when she worked at the Library.
Nice piece of history told. Fine photos, also.
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