William Pitt Tavern

>> Reincarnated <<

Currently houses
Chatham Jewelers and Law Offices
94 Main Street
Chatham, NJ

Hines: Open all year for lunch and dinner except Mondays. A nice dinner is served in this old residence at a most reasonable price. Filet mignon, roast lamb, and the like, are served with fresh vegetables and their own pastries. Reservations Tel. 4-0610. Lunch 80¢; Dinner $1.15 - $1.45.

Listings such as this make me realize that Hines did an excellent job in navigating minor by-ways to discover local favorites such as the William Pitt Tavern. Remember, there were not many interstates yet and certainly fewer "rest-stops" in the 30s and 40s. This lead Hines out of the cities onto state & county roads, deeper into American towns. Like many 'Main Streets,' Chatham's also doubled as State Route 24.

The William Pitt Tavern (or Inn as it was also known) was originally the Crane House built 1845. As far as I can tell it was a charming spot for ladies luncheons and quality dinners but probably not frequented by many people from outside the immediate area. It was regularly listed in local papers as the choice spot for club luncheons and speaking engagements as well as being "a widely known luncheon and dinner rendezvous." (The Item, Oct. 1942 Millburn & Short Hills paper) One of the remarkable accomplishments of Hines' guide book was that it brought modest establishments such as the William Pitt to nationwide attention. I'm sure the Gibson sisters were most flattered.

In my search I uncover a curious 2 page "Historic American Building Survey" record made for Morris County from around the time it was still open. It states the following...

William Pitt Tavern ("Crane House" handwritten)
Owners: Alice E. and Janice R. Gibson
Date of Erection: About 1845
Materials of Construction: Foundation - Stone, Exterior walls - frame, Interior walls - plaster, paneling of a later date, Roof - pitch

Historical Data: This house was built sometime after 1842 when Lydia Crane acquired the property from Anna Bonnell. It was supposed to have been built for her by her brother. From Lydia Crane the property descended by will to Phoebe Crane. It was sold in 1891 by her executors to Julia Skinner for a consideration of $1,500. Julia Skinner gave the property in her will to Charlotte Secor. Her executors sold to the present owners in 1931. It is known locally as the Old Crane House. The name William Pitt Tavern was given by the present owners who operate a tea room there.

One last bit of curiosity... the William Pitt lead me to nifty online archive of vintage recipes! It seems in the 1950s Ford Motors published a collection of recipes selected from inns and restaurants around the country. What a way to promote the new American mode of travel! I am delighted to see other establishments from my Hines' book in this list as well and will tie those in later. If you would like to preview: click here to see the full listing.

This recipe appeared in the Ford Treasury of Favorite Recipes from Famous Eating Places published in 1950. The illustration is an original painting by Grant Reynard.

Ford Times Treasury of Favorite Recipes
This popular eating place was named for that great benefactor of the early colonies, William Pitt, Earl of Chatham. It is open every weekday except Monday, from noon until 8:00pm and Sundays from noon until 6:00pm.

#25 William Pitt's Coconut Cream Chiffon Pie

• 3/4 cup shredded coconut

• 1 tablespoon gelatin
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 3 eggs, separated
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup scalded milk
• 2 cups heavy cream, whipped
• 1 baked pie crust

1. Sprinkle gelatin in cold water.
2. Combine egg yolks, sugar, salt, and vanilla. Add to hot milk. Cook in double boiler until mixture coats spoon.
3. Add gelatin to hot mixture; stir until dissolved. Chill until syrupy.
4. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites and 1 cup whipped cream.
5. Pour into crust-lined pan and chill.
6. Top pie with remainder of whipped cream and sprinkle with coconut.