In 1774—the year of the first American Revolution—the tavern was under the proprietorship of Widow Mary Sternes. Tories met here to draft and sign their 1774 protest. A plaque located at the base of Elm Street notes its Patriot significance: “On his way to take command of the Continental Army at Cambridge George Washington was entertained at this spot then occupied by the Stearns [sic] Tavern, July 1st 1775.”