Thomas Tague purchased the property in 1856 and ran a tavern until 1870 when Amos Martindale took over the building, extending it to the west and began operating the Martindale House.
Though there were many owners of this building, there was always a public dining room for guests of the hotel and for the travelers who came by canal, stage or by train.
The Martindales lived upstairs and had twelve children. When sufficient guest arrived, it often was necessary to put the kids up in the attic.
There was also a small room upstairs known as the "borning room" and was used by expecting mothers. As Dr. Cupp's office was just next door, a good number of local residents were born here rather than have the doctor risk coming out to their house in the back country on a bad winter night.
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