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Originally erected in the 1790's by Henry
Hembold(t). This building was intended to be a tavern, but his initial
petition was denied.
John Rawlins, the next owner, was captain
of the volunteer rifle company in the War of 1812. Mr. Rawlins lost his
tavern license in 1818 because of frequent late night disturbances by
local mill workers. His departure was also hastened by some other locals,
after he testified against them erecting a pole in defiance of the
"Alien and Sedition" Acts back in 1806.
By 1880, the quiet Philadelphia suburb of
Gladwyne changed the building's name to the Merion Square Hotel - a calmer
alternative to the nickname "The War Office".
When prohibition arrived, the building
served many purposes including a post office, confectionary, soda
fountain, ice cream parlor, meeting hall, and even dog kennels.
After being lived in by the families of Mr.
Haleh and then Mr. Rossi, Mr. Abe Swartz returned "The Old Guard
House Inn" to its destined future as a tavern until 1949. It was then
sold to Mr. Frank Callahan, who started and established the restaurant
here, for the next thirty years.
The present owner, Mr. Albert Breuers, took
over on May 7, 1979, adding his German - Continental influence to the
already popular American cuisine.
The name "The Old Guard House
inn" was possibly derived from the period of weekly training and
recruiting sessions by the volunteer rifle company. Or perhaps, because in
its early existence, a part of it was used as a "Brig" to cool
off extreme revelers instead of the more traditional "Village
Stocks".
George Washington did not SLEEP HERE, but
was reputed to have led colonial troops through the village for
refreshments at the old water pump.
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