Finally: A list of Boston's oldest bars

The second picture in the gallery - The Bell in Hand Tavern - is a pretty close match to the family room of the house I grew up in just north of Princeton NJ.

It was built in 1714 along the NY/Philadelphia post road and was known as Stompf Tavern for the first century and a half of its life. The Continentlal Army used it as a regional HQ during the war. The local road still bears its name.

We didn't have that long bar along one side of the room though ;)

http://www.historyproject.org/Downloads/Coll37Hist...

It is in a building that is old though, and it is a real gem. The current establishment only dates back to the 1970s, when the then vacant building was restored. The building had many uses in the interim though, but it wasn't a tavern for much of its existence.

The article refers to "The Bell in Hand Tavern on Beacon Hill".

No.

To put in a plug for Stephanie Schorow's new book "Drinking Boston" ISBN 978-1-934598-09-2 It comes with a smart phone app.

This list, like many such lists, is suspect. Many of these may not be the original buildings or locations, nor have they been continually operating since the time of their establishment. Also, if they list Jacob Wirth's, which is more of a restaurant, shouldn't they list the Union Oyster House, which also has a bar? (or did the restaurant come later with the former and the bar come later with the latter?)