History of the Publick House

 

This year the city of Easton will celebrate its 250th birthday and the public opening of the 1753 Bachmann Publick House. Easton Heritage Alliance has finally completed the restoration of both the interior and exterior of the house, one of the few existing early colonial buildings in Easton. The Tavern is the town's oldest known building and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington D.C. Located on the northeast corner of Second and Northampton Streets, the 1753 Bachmann Publick House has seen much history over the years.
 

Bachmann Publick House 1911

Easton was created as the County seat of the newly formed Northampton in 1752. In a frontier County where houses were few and crude, and no government buildings yet existed, taverns played a very important role in civic life. The Bachmann Tavern was one of Easton's first Courthouses and is the only building remaining that was used for 18th century court sessions.
Before the revolution, thirteen taverns served visitors to Easton, with legal and governmental business conducted therein, often on a rotational basis. For eleven years the County court sessions, or the Kings Court, were held in the local taverns. The room in the Bachmann Publick House that served as the Kings Court has been restored to its colonial era appearance, thanks to the generosity of the Northampton County Bar Association. Visitors to the newly restored Tavern can take a step back in time and see Colonial and Revolutionary Court proceedings re-enacted in performances for their education and pleasure.
 

Bachmann Publick House circa 1920's
Later, the tavern served as a meeting location of the Burgesses of the Borough of Easton. Serving amongst them were Peter Kichlein, revolutionary war general, and Christian Bixler, founder of Bixlers Jewelry Store, the oldest jewelry house in America. It is even believed that some prominent leaders of the American Revolution once gathered in the Tavern to devise war strategies with the local Native American Indians. These leaders included such well-known names as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and General John Sullivan.
 
George Taylor, iron master of the Durham Furnace, acquired the Bachmann Publick House in 1763 and moved in with his wife and two slaves. Taylor served on the revolutionary Committee of Safety and the Committee of Correspondence. He also signed the Declaration of Independence, acted as justice of the peace, and served a number of terms in the General Assembly. In this time of revolutionary fervor, one can imagine what radical ideas may have been hatched in the tavern during Taylor's ownership.

The 1753 Bachmann Publick House was a prime candidate for restoration with not only a rich history, but also an amazing 80% of the original structure still standing--an extraordinary amount for a commercial building over 245 years old. After much elbow grease, footwork, and vision, including a priceless gift from Mrs. Sadie Stauffer, the restored Bachmann Publick House joins with the State Theater, The Crayola Factory, and the National Canal Museum in attracting visitors to beautiful, historic Easton.

Bachmann Publick House 1985

The 1753 Bachmann Publick House serves as a "Living History Learning Center" and feature:
· Tavern-style dining and refreshments in a unique, original 18th Century setting.
· A museum/exhibit space for Easton and American antiques, memorabilia, and other historic items.
· An interactive children and family education center with a focus on the Tavern's role in Easton's 18th century life and the American Revolution.
· Historical recreations to be filmed or performed in the Tavern.
· Rental spaces on Northampton and Second Streets available for appropriate retail businesses.
 

Bachmann Publick House 2002