The End of an Era

For those whose experience at TMR goes back to the 1960’s and earlier, you likely remember the Donut Farm and the Slide Farm. Another institution in the TMR area is coming to and end.

Benton Wallace Mitchell of Barryville, NY, owner of Bakers Tap Room, a retired machinist and longtime resident of the area, died Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis, NY. He was 85.

The son of the late Wallace Mitchell and Helen Mitchell Novak, he was born April 16, 1922 in Yonkers, NY. He was the widower of Margaret R. Baker Mitchell, who passed away on December 19, 2000.

In the 1960’s and into the 1970’s NY had a drinking age of 18. Bakers was the longtime off-reservation home of many TMR staff and adult leaders and could probably be considered (at least unofficially) the TMR Staff bar during the 1970’s. Even in the off season, you could usually find a familiar Scouting face at the bar or one of the tables.

Ben and Marge, and Betty the waitress, served up many a pitcher of Genesee Cream Ale and fresh pizza, burgers and sandwiches to those wanting something beside camp food.

Bakers was a regular Friday and Saturday night stop for those volunteering at camp as campmasters or on work weekends. Some called ahead from Port Jervis or Monticello, while still on their way, to avoid the long wait for a pizza on a busy night.

It wasn’t the same since Marge passed away several years ago, but we were there for beer and pizza one night last year.

Another pitcher for the table and raise your glassess…To Absent Friends.

3 thoughts on “The End of an Era

  1. I heard a rumor that the family is going to re-open the bar and continue to run it the same way Marge and Ben did. Hopefully this rumor is true. I want to see the old Baker’s Tap Room …

    -An old friend

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *