Bear Brook Tavern
Historical Overview
Standing at 95 Washington Road is a two-story building now housing the Princeton Korean Community Church. However, this building at one point also served as a tavern in the historic West Windsor community of Penns Neck.
Steven Anderson reputedly opened the "Bear Brook Tavern" in this building around 1933.[1] Early advertisements promoted dances every Saturday night and "delicious sandwiches."[2] In 1963, the establishment passed to John Ellsworth and Jack Stives.[3] They advertised Italian specialties, sandwiches, drinks, packaged goods, and much more. Their cook was "Bill" Collins.[4] The next year, they renovated an apartment on the second floor to become a banquet room and rented it out for various purposes.[5] In 1967, the American Legion Post 76 turned the building into their headquarters.[6] In 2001, the Princeton Korean Community Church (which formed in 1991 and originally held services in the nearby Princeton Baptist Church) purchased the old Bear Brook Tavern and has continued to use it as a house of worship.[7] |
Bibliography
- "Bear Brook Tavern Popular for Fin Pizza, Italian Specialties, Drinks, Happy Times." Princeton Herald. Novembr 21, 1963.
- Steve Anderson. “Bear Brook Tavern.” Trenton Evening Times. Trenton, NJ, November 8, 1940.
- "Bear Brook Tavern Popular for Fin Pizza, Italian Specialties, Drinks, Happy Times." Princeton Herald. Novembr 21, 1963.
- Ibid.
- "West Windsor Zoners Approve 3 Variances." Trenton Evening Times. February 7, 1964.
- "New Home for Legion Post 76." The Evening Times. March 3, 1967.
- “History of the Church.” Princeton Korean Community Church, February 12, 2017. https://www.pkcchurch.org/intro/history/.