HUNTING TAVERN NEWS

By Joanne Kosuda-Warner

We are excited to report that our new roof for the Tavern will be installed beginning in March or April, weather permitting. Thanks to all our friends and neighbors who responded to our appeal for roof funds as well as for the O’Connor Foundation’s generous grant.

This month, I would like to share with you the charming image of a little girl who lived in Andes for most of her life. Nancy Hunting (1830-1909) was the daughter of Ephraim and Sarah Hunting, the proprietors of the Hunting Tavern from 1839 – 1857. Nancy’s portrait was painted by an unknown artist when she was a small girl. She is depicted in a red dress edged with lace. Around her neck is a gold necklace with a small bead, and she holds a simple bouquet of forget-me-nots and a rose still in bud. As a teenager she would have been a witness to the Anti-rent uprisings in Andes and the drama that unfolded at the Hunting Tavern in 1845. She married businessman Duncan Ballantine in 1849 and spent the remainder of her life in the Italianate style mansion across the street. The painting (we have a photographic copy) hung at one time in the center hall of the mansion.

Buffy Calvert graciously let us borrow the photograph of her relative in order to make a copy. This photo has been enlarged, and when framed it will be hung in the Tavern’s parlor with information about Nancy and her family, and their role in the history of Andes.~