In the 1740’s this property at 98 Main Street was fenced by Benjamin Luse as a tavern lot so that drovers 
could turn their animals loose while staying at his tavern across the street. Stables were built here and Isaiah Fairclo may have operated a tap room in the basement where stone steps lead down from Grove St. Cut into one step is “W T B May 27, 1802”.
could turn their animals loose while staying at his tavern across the street. Stables were built here and Isaiah Fairclo may have operated a tap room in the basement where stone steps lead down from Grove St. Cut into one step is “W T B May 27, 1802”.In 1810 Zephaniah Drake bought this property along with the tavern across the park which he operated while the Brick Hotel was being built.
Daniel Budd lived here in the 1850’s and when he persuaded William Rankin to come to Chester in 1854, the famous Chester Institute was opened in this building.
This corner of Main and Grove was the intersection of the “Great Roads” of New Jersey, the “Landing” or “Brunswick” Road which led up to Sussex County, and one running through Morristown and up into Pennsylvania. The road between the war memorial and Pegasus Antiques building is the “old road.”
The Chester History Trail 