Tavern at the Corner
When Thomas Patten's estate (d. 1747) was inventoried in 1755, most of the homestead south of Salem Road was settled on his eldest son. 18 acres north of the road was settled on the younger son, who had just came of age and soon sold to Isaac and Jacob Foster of Ipswich, without buildings. The Fosters certainly built the main house, but it's unclear whether it was enlarged around 1795 when in use as a tavern. The Fosters were farmers.
Famed architect, Reuben Duren bought the place in 1792 when he came from Bedford to Billerica. Whether by accident or design, he did bill the surveying parties for the proposed Middlesex Canal for lodging and meals. This was the beginning of a long and famous history as "the tavern". In 1795, Duren was beginning to take an interest in the center of town, where he built the church and several fine homes. Thomas Richardson had sold the mills at North Billerica to the Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal, so he bought the tavern which continued with his name. It prospered and the small business community which grew up at The Corner after 1800 was undoubtedly stimulated by its presence. There was no comparable development on the other side of the bridge.
Josiah Stevens came to Billerica in 1801, married Richardson's daughter and assumed management of the tavern. There were others, but by 1835, Lyman Haynes had taken over. His son, Tilly Haynes presumably cut his teeth here before becoming a prominent hotelier in Boston with the United States Hotel.
In 1840, the tavern was bought by Anthony Jones and returned to its original use as a farmstead. It remained in the Jones family for many years.