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Completing the Picture |
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Riegelsville Inn in Riegelsville, PA |
Public Domain
![]() Riegelsville Hotel in the early 1900's |
Public Domain
![]() Delaware Canal as it traveled through Riegelsville, PA |
![]() Benjamin Riegel House |
In 1832, Benjamin
Riegel left his home in New Jersey and took up residence along the
Pennsylvania shoreline of the Delaware in a fine new structure that he
built on part of a 69 acre tract that he had purchased a decade earlier.
In that same year, a portion of the waters diverted from the river
began to flow into the sixty mile long manmade channel that ran from
Easton to Bristol. This vital transportation link was part of a greater
system of waterways that would deliver goods and Anthracite coal to
cities and towns throughout the east. The canal brought an explosion of
commerce and industry to those once sleepy villages and settlements that
lay along its course. Once again Benjamin Riegel would be at the
forefront of growth and development. And while the town’s expanding
population could thank him personally for a place to live, a place to
work, and even a place to worship their God. It was another equally
prominent and respected member of the Riegel family that gave them a
place to play. In 1838, Benjamin’s uncle (who carried both the same
first and last name) opened the Riegelsville Inn. |
Roebling Bridge across the Delaware River in Riegelsville, PA |
Today this absolutely enticing historic pub and restaurant is one of only a handful of establishments on either side of the Delaware that has remained intact and in operation since its original founding. And with the river at its front door, and the canal at its back, there are few locations anywhere that can boast a more impressive setting. |
Gorgeous and intimate taproom |
Over the
fireplace in the inn’s cozy and congenial taproom hangs a rather stately
portrait of the gentleman that built the Riegelsville. And though there
are a few pictures scattered about the building that convey a sense of
early American rural life, the majority of available wall space has been
dedicated to the work of Beth Brader.
Not only is this kind and caring individual an extremely capable
bartender, but apparently she is also the de facto artist-in-residence.
While I was well aware of her skills with a shaker, for the better part
of my patronage I had no knowledge of her profound talents with a brush.
As is so often the case, we know people only by what they do—and not by
who they are. |
Benjamin Riegel |
Beth Brader |
An assortment of Beth's paintings: |
The achievements
of a person’s past are merely a partial print. The results of their
creativity or craftsmanship allow us only to speculate and make
assumptions. In truth, I have no real insights as to the good or bad
about the man whose portrait hangs above the fireplace. But it is
because of his efforts that I get to raise my cup with some truly
wonderful souls in the confines of this great pub. But moreover, I get
to experience both the art and the artist—and that is probably as close
as any of us ever get to completing the picture! |
Riegelsville Inn 10 -12 Delaware Road Riegelsville, Pennsylvania 18077 610-749-0100 http://riegelsvilleinn.com |
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