Our story
THE HOFFMAN HOUSE, located in historic Kingston, New York, was built prior to October 1679, and with very few exceptions, the entire structure, both interior and exterior, is intact Rather than destroying any part of the building, all usable materials were salvaged and restored; any warped or damaged floorboards were carefully removed, planed, sanded and it necessary, turned over. Original nails were also reused.
This same process was employed for restoring the molding. baseboards, mantels, and door paneling. Original door handles of wrought iron still exist on several doors. The bar top was made from wood from a 200 year old barn and was made to have the appearance of the era of the building. The "grill" above t he bar was built to resemble the old style of "bar and grill".
Hoffman House is an excellent example of an early American Dutch rubble house, featuring a fireplace in each of the main rooms; many small multi-level rooms; and wide-planked, random width floors. The first recorded owner of the property was Edward Whittaker, an English soldier in the employ of the Duke of York. In 1707, when Nicholas Hoffman became the owner of the residence, all transactions and information pertinent to the building were recorded.
The most notable member of the Hoffman family was Nicholas' son, Anthony.
A blacksmith by trade, he served for many years as a trustee of Kingston, owned large estates in Ulster and Dutchess Counties, was an elected member of the provincial Congress of New York City, a signer of the "Articles of Confederation" an appointed judge of Dutchess County and was one of the regents of the University of New York in 1780,
In addition to its primary purpose as a residence for the Hoffman family, the building served as an early fortification and lookout, as evidenced not only by its location as the cornerstone of the Stockade area, but also by certain structural features (steps in the attic leading to the roof of the building).
On October 1 6th 1777, the British army plundered and burned Kingston. The Hoffman House was severely damaged but was restored by the family shortly thereafter. Char marks can still be seen in the attic of the house.
The Hoffman family owned and occupied the house for a total of 201 years. In 1908 it was willed to the Salvation Army. During the mid part of the 1900's, the residence was used as a warehouse and storage facility and fell into a state of total disrepair.
In 1973 Kingston Urban Renewal Agency purchased the building and the exterior was restored.
In 1975, Pat and Ginny Bradley purchased the Hoffman House and began its restoration. The work was completed with the help of devoted friends and relatives and took nearly two years, In June 1977, the Hoffman House Tavern, which began as a "Labor of Love" opened for business.
After 43 years of operating The Hoffman House, Pat and Ginny retired, and in March of 2020 The Hoffman House began operating under the ownership of its longtime Chef of 31 years, Francisco Diaz and his family. Proudly, they continue the tradition of providing fine food, drinks, and great service in a beautifully restored historic landmark.
