The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

Story reported 9/22/10 and updated 9/23/10

A fire early Wednesday afternoon destroyed the carriage barn and a Ford Mustang at the old Coffey homestead at the corner of Mason Street and Route 22B. The nearby unoccupied house was slightly damaged. The Press Republican reported in its September 23rd edition that the property is owned by John Webster and that it is uncertain if the loss will be fully covered by insurance.  The fire was reported at 1:31 p.m. with the involved fire departments back in service at 4:25 p.m.  The Morrisonville Fire Department battled the blaze with the Peru, Keeseville, South Plattsburgh, Cadyville and Saranac departments providing mutual aid. The AuSable Forks Fire Department stood by.   Peru Fireman David Brown was kind enough to provide several photos of the blaze.

Long-time local residents recall when the Coffey home was one of the most beautiful residences in the North Country. Former Peru Town Supervisor Jerome Downs” grandmother Mary Coffey was residing in the home at the time of her death. Jerome and his wife Janet resided there during the first five years of their marriage. Janet Downs said that the house is probably about 200 years old. It was once known as Bromley’s Tavern.  A newspaper article states that the tavern was bricked in 1857.

From Allan Everest’s Book— Pioneer Homes of Clinton County 1966: Bromley’s Tavern — original owner: Roswell Bromley  Date: c1805   For many years Bromley operated a tavern in this building, which was originally frame.  Gradually the building was extended back and sheds were added. Stephen Weaver acquired it around 1855 and bricked the structure in mid-century style.

From a book : Reminiscences— an Early History of Old Peru by members of Peru Grange———— just north of the Mason Cemetery—— “Near here Roswell Bromley built the old tavern through the parlor of which passes a line separating the towns of Peru and Schuyler Falls.  At first he built only the upright part, but as the county became more thickly settled greater accomodations for travelers became necessary and rooms and sheds were added until the house and barns were connected as they are today.  In this house one of the first temperance women of our town left unmistakable record, for tradition tells us that Mr. Bromley’s daughter, Josephine, refused to draw liquor for the men.  Although we do not know how old this house is, we find that about 1857 Stephen Weaver bought it and had it bricked and remodeled as it stands now”.

Janet Downs closed, “We lived there from Sept. 1958 til Oct. 1963.  Lots of good memories.”