One of the unique aspects of the Dills Tavern “scene” is that NYCHAPS has always had access to reenactors –

those folks who enjoy dressing in the clothes of days past, portraying how our ancestors lived in the 18th, 19th and even early 20th centuries, and educating the public through the visual portrayals about the history of our area and county.

When NYCHAPS was founded in 1984, there was already a small corps of people who dressed in colonial clothing, an extension of the Bicentennial. Even before NYCHAPS became the owners of the Tavern, several ceremonies and vignettes were presented to the public which were enhanced by reenactors. When Maple Shade Barn was dedicated as NYCHAPS property in 1992 the ceremony included colonial reenactors who were dressed in their garb and fired their flintlocks.

In 1998 a play (Recruitment at Dills Tavern) was presented at the Tavern, then owned by Bob Eichelberger, which required the actors to be in colonial clothing.

It seemed that once the Tavern became the property of NYCHAPS in 2001 local reenactors, both 18th and 19th century, found a home; a building that suited their needs to immerse themselves in the era they portrayed. In fact, other local historical societies would contact NYCHAPS and ask if some of these “Dills Tavern” reenactors would participate in some of their events. 

Over the years many reenactor groups have become regulars at Dills Tavern because of the philosophy of utilizing the building as it would have been during their time period. Candlelight, fireplaces, and the material atmosphere of the Tavern satisfy the needs of reenactors who are interested in immersive history.

Groups who portray the French and Indian War, Revolutionary War (both American and British), Civil War (both Union and Confederate), WWI and WWII utilize the Tavern to educate the public about the history of their era.

There is really no other place like Dills Tavern where reenactors can immerse themselves so completely in their preferred historical portrayals. The Tavern is certainly a unique place that strongly supports the teaching of history through visual and active means.