The public is invited to attend an open house from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 22, 2020, at the former Magee Auction House and Antique Shop at 3307 Route 20 in Nelson.
The event is hosted by Nelson Preservation Associates, which plans to acquire and renovate the buildings and install a restaurant, updated apartments and other businesses.
“We want to involve the public in this project right from the start,” said NPA President Nancy Demyttenaere. “Their support will be key to the success of saving a historic building that has stood for more than 200 years and to making it a thriving business again.”
The public is invited to attend, view the property and discuss future plans with members of the NPA Board of Directors. The preservation plan is available on the NPA website at olddroverstavern.com.
The building was constructed circa 1804 and is eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It originally served as a tavern stop for drovers on the Cherry Valley Turnpike that had opened just a few years earlier. Over its history, the building has been a hardware store, a post office and a feed store. The building retains a high degree of architectural integrity to its period of construction. Grants are available to help fund renovation projects once the property has been acquired.
Historic photos and more information are available at olddroverstavern.com. Donations may be made at gofundme.com for Old Drovers Tavern.