In 1778, British troops stormed into Pilesgrove, New Jersey’s Seven Stars Tavern, a busy stop along Kings Highway, then an important Colonial route linking the northern and southern halves of the state.
Today, the two-story brick building at 1349 Kings Highway is a four-bedroom, three-bathroom residence listed for sale, asking $895,000. But in the late 18th century, it functioned as something far more dynamic: a tavern, a stagecoach stop and an informal information hub, where locals and travelers alike passed through its doors—and in some cases, never left.
The Seven Stars Tavern, built in 1762, was designed for both function and flow. A now-rare feature still hints at its past life: a low window built into the front facade, where food and drink could be handed directly to coachmen and riders without requiring them to dismount…