History

The Peacock Inn dates back to the 1700’s, when it was built on the corner of Main Street (now Nassau Street) and Railroad Avenue (now University Place). Jonathan Deare a member of the Continental Congress purchased the property from Thomas Stockton in 1779. According to “Hageman’s Princeton,” he offered members of the Continental Congress two rooms with fireplaces, two beds with bedding, breakfast and tea for two and dinner for four.

The Peacock Inn was moved to its present location on Bayard Lane in 1875 when it was purchased by the Princeton Hotel Company. Mr Libbey, President of the Princeton Hotel Company, was a very prominent Princeton figure. Not only was he a Princeton graduate and professor, but he was also the person who established orange and black as the University colors. He also was one of the first people to own a Telephone in Princeton. The Peacock Inn was opened as an Inn in 1911 and has been operating as one ever since.

In 1911 the Inn was purchased by Joseph and Helen O’Connor and they named it The Peacock Inn after an Inn in Midland England which used the peacock as a symbol of good food, royalty, and good luck. The inn served as a local hang out for Princeton University students. According to Mrs. Evatt, who purchased the inn in 1954, the entire Princeton football team came to the Inn and happened to be standing outside on the porch. Due to the weight of the team, the porch collapsed along with the football team. A quick photographer snapped a shot of this incident and later that year the photograph won a prize and was featured in Sports Illustrated.

Many luminaries, including Albert Einstein and F. Scott Fitzgerald, have been known to eat, drink and fraternize at the Inn. The new owners look forward to welcoming guests to do the same.