Image above: Hendrick's Tavern, formerly George Washington Manor, pictured in 1967. From the collection of the Roslyn Landmark Society.
Hendrick's Tavern is known as the site where President George Washington had breakfast during his stop at Roslyn while on his five-day Long Island trip in 1790. From the nation's then-capital, New York City, Washington traveled past Brooklyn and east to Long Island towns including Hempstead, Amityville, Smithtown, and Huntington, respective to the stops that Washington took on the trip.
Washington’s visit to Long Island connects with the larger experiences of the residents in the area during the American Revolution. British troops occupied the North Shore of Long Island after the Battle of Long Island. The British threatened to confiscate food, cattle, and wood that belonged to patriots in the region. Before the British left Long Island in 1783, the Hendrick's Tavern, originally known as the Pine-Onderdonk-Bogart House, was raided in 1781.
On Saturday, April 24, 1790, Washington arrived in Roslyn from Oyster Bay and started his day with breakfast at Hendrick Onderdonk's home. The purpose of the general trip is unknown but may be related to reasons ranging from his curiosity about local farming techniques to visiting Long Islander's who served as spies during the war. It is believed that Washington could have chosen to visit Hendrick Onderdonk's home to thank Anderis Onderdonk for his service as a patriot and captain of the local militia during the War for Independence.
As one of the largest property owners in Roslyn during this period, Hendrick Onderdonk owned the Roslyn Grist Mill and the Onderdonk Paper Mill. The Onderdonk Paper Mill was part of a system that passed secret war messages to American forces during the American Revolution. The role that Long Island spies played in the war was deemed worthy of a visit from the first president.
In the early 1900s, the property became a restaurant and still serves as a dining establishment. It was renamed Hendrick's Tavern after its renovation in 2012.
In 1990, Dr. Roger Gerry, former president of the Roslyn Landmark Society, also organized an event to recreate George Washington’s time in Hempstead Harbor. On Saturday, May 10 at 11 AM, the Roslyn Landmark Society will again celebrate Washington's 1790 visit to Roslyn with "A Taste of Colonial Breakfast with Diane Schwindt." During this family-friendly historic reenactment event on the lawn of Trinity Episcopal Church, historic cook Diane Schwindt will demonstrates colonial cooking techniques. Attendees will also be able to sample some of Washington's favorite breakfast items like Hoecakes, Waffles, Dutch Aebleskivers topped with butter and syrup, and hot colonial tea.
For more information and to register, visit the Roslyn Landmark Society’s website at roslynlandmarks.org. You can also visit the Bryant Library’s Local History Collection at localhistory.bryantlibrary.org to explore more of Roslyn’s historical past.
Sophia Lian is a Roslyn Landmark Society Gardiner Young Scholars Program high school intern and part of the new “Young Historians” collaboration between the Roslyn Landmark Society and Blank Slate Media. Special thanks to the Bryant Library’s Local History Collection for providing research assistance.
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