Black Bass Hotel

History

History information is some background and history about the location. This is meant to be a basic summary. Below the history records you will find sources in which you can click on to find out more information. There may be multiple history records per location.

Built in the 1740s, the Black Bass Hotel served as a haven for travelers, traders, and sportsmen. The famous tavern had many names through the years, including Wall’s Tavern, Lumberville Hotel, Temple Bar, The Rising Sun, and finally The Black Bass Hotel. As one of the oldest inns in the country, they are proud to be included in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Bass seeps with a rich history. One of the most notable documents is that while George Washington is known to have slept in several historic properties throughout the Delaware Valley, he notably did not stay at the Bass. As Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, Washington was turned away by the innkeeper of the Bass, who was a Tory and loyal to the British Crown. He made it clear that Washington was not welcome to stay. Shortly thereafter, just 14 miles south, George Washington organized the first move in a surprise attack against the Hessian forces. He and his troops crossed the Delaware River to Trenton, NJ, on the morning of December 26, 1776. This proved a decisive victory in the American Revolutionary War that helped turn the tides in Americans’ favor.

In 1833 a fire broke out in the tavern, resulting in extensive damage. Major Anthony Fry, the proprietor at the time, broke open the cellar doors and, at the risk of his own life, carried out a huge quantity of gunpowder that was being stored there. This stopped an inevitable explosion and saved the Bass from total destruction. We thought this feat worthy of naming one of our suites after him!

In the late nineteenth century, the Black Bass fell into decline and passed through several owners until it was purchased in 1949 by Herbert Ward. Herbie, as he was fondly known, rescued the Bass and ran it until just before his death 54 years later. He was passionate about history and was a devoted Anglophile. His expansive collection of British memorabilia, as well as hundreds of antiques and notable artworks, was lovingly restored under the guidance of the Thompson family. Herbie purchased the famed pewter bar in the Tavern at auction, which originally resided in Maxim's of Paris.

In 2008 the Black Bass Hotel was in desperate need of repair and was put up for auction. Jack Thompson purchased the property and embarked on a total restoration of the historic hotel. The Thompson family undertook the buildings were meticulously restored, considering the original appeal and history of the building. The various dining rooms and bars were painstakingly redesigned to bring them close to their original integrity but with modern comfort in mind. The original eleven second-story guest rooms had only four baths. The process of designing and restoring the suites took a significant amount of time and effort. Space was totally transformed to now house eight magnificent suites, all with charming baths and most with balconies overlooking the river or the village of Lumberville.

Added by: sdonley on 03/29/2025 DB#:732
Source(s):
https://www.blackbasshotel.com/history/