The Peppermint Tavern

It had a bowling alley

From The New Ipswich Papers 1936

From a collection of Papers Written for the Historical Society of New Ipswich, New Hampshire and Read at Society Meetings - Compiled and Edited by Mrs. Abbie L. Phelps

Of all the taverns in New Ipswich …

    THE THE PEPPERMINT TAVERN seems to have really stood at the head of them all. It was built by Samuel Batchelder soon after 1800 and while conducted by him was said to have been the best public house between Boston and Keene. It was a large two-story house with ells, barns and outbuildings, and at one end was a Bowling Alley. There were barns on both sides of the road and large enclosures for the many droves of cattle that were driven up country for pasturing, three and four hundred at a time, and whose drivers always made especial effort to get to this place to spend the night. 

   Mr. Batchelder died in 1814 and was succeeded by his son Peter for a short time, and later by Moody Adams who had married his daughter Betsey. Mr. Adams was there for twenty years and then Silas Wheeler who had married Mary Batchelder kept it for a time. It had numerous proprietors afterwards but its best days were over when Mr. Adams gave it up. It burned down in 1869 and its last days were no credit to itself or to the town. Until within a few years the cellar hole half full of bricks from the chimneys was there and the foundations of the outbuildings could be traced. 

   The story goes that Mr. William Greenman took a party of cigar makers up there to get a little stimulant, having bragged somewhat about the good time they were going to have. Going to the proprietor he asked that worthy for some rum; there was none on hand- well, whisky would do, but they were temporarily out of that. Exasperated the customer demanded to know what they did have, and it came out that all they had on hand at the time was some essence of peppermint, and ever since it has been known as the Peppermint Tavern.

Thayer Photo Album Selection

A selection from the Thayer family photo album (a donation to the Society). This might be the interior of Phil’s Market on Main Street.

Formulas

Stephen A. Thayer’s “One Hundred Formulas” was published in 1883. It contains recipes from everything from printing ink to pain killers. Afflicted with “Piles”? Maybe you need some marshmallows.

WARNING: Please don’t try any of these “remedies”, many contain ingredients which have been shown to be harmful.

James Roger diary entry

December 4, 1908 (Friday)

Cold cloudy day wind N. to W. dust blowing and wind surging with a sound of rain in it.  David fixing up his two horse team as some bolts have given way.  Also put on storm windows in house and fixed up little door under barn with hinges.  I put leaves in hen house, also some clover hay and filled boiler. Fell and hurt shoulder chasing a hen.  The joiners have been busy putting in floor in Church dining room for some days past.  Women’s Relief Corps have supper tonight down town.  Mr. Bucknam put manure round shrubs on Church Common and G. Sargent on Gordon’s hedge