Inside Old Kelley Tavern

Old Kelley Tavern is home of the O'Callaghans and headquarters of Asian Trade/Oriental Rug Review. The house was built in 1790. The barn was dismantled and moved from a few miles away and, over the past four years, reassembled and renovated.

The Dining Room at
Old Kelley Tavern.

The rug is a Bahktiari long rug, new production (c.1975) The small rug on the side-table in the background is a Jaf Kurd flatwoven bagface. The chair against the wall is a Pilgrim-era sausage-turned arm chair. The decanter and wines are late 18th/early 19th century. The portrait is of a New England lawyer, c, 1830. The lantern on the side table is a wooden frame holding four glass lights and is from the 18th century. Stenciling here replicates traces of the original found when walls were stripped.

The Parlor at Old Kelley Tavern.

This is the room that was the first post office in the town of New Hampton. The carpet is a reproduction of an antique Serapi. The Highboy is an English William and Mary piece. The print over the mantel is of Lord Timothy Dexter's mansion located on High Street in Newburyport, Massachusetts. It is hand-tinted and dated 1810. The other framed piece is a sampler. The stoneware crock is decorated with a bird sitting on a branch. The other furnishings are contemporary.

The Master-bedroom at Old Kelley Tavern

The rug is a contemporary Persian Joshaghan. The bed is a reproduction pencil-post rope-bed, and it is covered with an early American quilt. The trapping over the headboard is a Turkoman asmalyk, made by the Yomud tribe for decorating the bride's camel during her wedding procession, c. 1880. It is one of a pair. Hung to the left of the window are three early Turkish prints. Under the window is a New Hampshire country Sheraton stand. To the right of the window is a framed map of new Hampshire dated 1794. It hangs over an early 18th century blanket chest, on top of which are a little painted box and leather-bound 18th century books. On the wall opposite the window is a fireplace. The kitty is the late, great Chuckie.

Downstairs Hall

A Balouch rug covers the downstairs hall. Tucked into the alcove formed by the ship's stairs (note the newell post to the left) as they ascend to the upstairs hall with two returns because they share the central core of the house with the massive central chimney masonry system. Stenciling here replicates traces of the original found when walls were stripped.

Upstairs Hall

Upstairs Hall floor is covered with a scatter sized Persian Joshaghan rug which matches the one in the master bedroom. The railing which begins here, twists down stairs and terminates in the newell post visible in the image above is original and displays extraordinary craftsmanship. Immediately behind the plaster and lath of the wall visible at the upper right is the house's central masonry mass. Visible lower right is one of the two stair returns dictated by the masonry. It is covered with a reproduction of the classic Phoenix and Dragon, or Marby rug.

History of Old Kelley Tavern

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