Fraunces Tavern at 49 Cortlandt Street

By January, 1789, Samuel Fraunces (c.1722–1795) took over the Hall's Tavern at 49 Cortlandt Street. Fraunces is best known as the owner of the iconic Fraunces Tavern, from 1762 to 1785, on the corner of Broad and Dock (later Pearl) streets. His tavern at 49 Cortlandt Street was also known as Fraunces Tavern at the time. This was one of the few taverns established by him in Manhattan.

Cortlandt Street was laid out in 1733 and it was named after Van Cortlandt family. Buildings in the area were destroyed by the Great Fire of 1776. The site is now in Cortlandt Way, part of the World Trade Center complex.

Sam Fraunces sold his famous tavern, on the corner of Broad and Dock streets, in 1785, and then he moved to New Jersey, to work as a farmer. He returned to New York in 1788 and opened another tavern at 49 Cortlandt Street, probably by the end of the same year.

The General Stage Office was kept in the tavern. By June 1789, stages left for Albany, Boston, and Philadelphia. This public mail business already operated in the place before Fraunces took over it. It seems it was previously owned by Talmage Hall since about 1786.

In an advertising in the Gazette of the United-States (New-York, January 20, 1790), Levi Pease announced that "...having contracted to carry the public mail in the stage from New-York to Boston, for the year 1790,..., he will bundles, money, newspapers, &c. And may be seen every Wednesday and Saturday Evening in New-York, at Fraunces Tavern,..." in a p.s.: "The Boston, Albany, and Philadelphia Stages now put up at Fraunces' Tavern, Cortlandt-Street, where passengers will please to apply."

On January 6, 1789, the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen held its anniversary meeting at the 49 Cortlandt Street tavern.

Washington's inauguration as the first President of the United States was held on April 30, 1789. As President, Washington hired Fraunces in May 1789, as his chief steward in the Franklin Mansion at 3 Cherry Street, in the City of New York. On June 10, Fraunces announced that his wife was in charge of the tavern.

On June 5, after Governor Clinton' re-election, he and his friends held a jubilee at Fraunces' Tavern in Cortlandt Street. On the 4th of July, officers who participated in the celebrations dined at this tavern. In the same year, the St. Tammany's Society held its meetings in the tavern. In September, J. Robardet opened a dancing school in this tavern.

In 1790, Fraunces moved to another tavern on Broad Street. Washington moved to Philadelphia in December, 1790, as the National Capital moved from New York to Philadelphia. Fraunces followed him in 1791.

In 1871, the site at 49 Cortlandt Street were occupied by Roper C. E. Co. that sold engines. The old tavern's building did not survive until the late 19th century, when a 5-story loft was erected at 49 Cortlandt Street. Today, the site is occupied by the 4 World Trade Center, 150 Greenwich St.