History

The George Inn, circa 1872

This old McAfee tavern was built by William Simpson in 1872, soon after the Railroad came to McAfee. The contractor for the Hotel was the grandfather of Dorsey Edsal. William Simpson, commonly called Squire Bill, was probably McAfee's most important person in the late 19th century.

Upon William Simpsons death in 1890, the Tavern-Hotel was operated by his son, county clerk Ora C. Simpson. Ora Simpson sold the Hotel in March 1914 to Leon C. Ruban, a horse racing fancier, who also ran a bottling works in McAfee.

Prohibition came in 1920, and Ruban sold the Hotel to McAfee contractor Samuel B. Martin in 1925.

The old Hotel built by Squire Bill in 1872 met a quasi doom in March 1935, soon after John and Laura Hovencamp bought it. It was badly damaged and gutted by a fire that had started in an old rear ice house.

The rebuilt structure scarcely resembled the old one. John and Laura Hovencamp sold the tavern in 1955.

In August of 1995, a major electrical fire destroyed the entire kitchen and the Package Goods store and heavily smoke damaged the Tap and Dining rooms. The all wood building was restored in six months, and reopened its doors on St. Patrick's Day of 1996.

In 2002, the 130th anniversary of the old Hotel's existence, a new extension to the building was added to accommodate the growing population of McAfee.

This hostelry, The George Inn, is more popular today than ever, still serving good fare to patrons after 130 years of operation.

Phone: 973-827-5758 - Fax 973-209-4800