Milleridge Inn

A Brief History: The Milleridge Inn is a staple in the Jericho community and has been for centuries. The Inn is located at 585 North Broadway in Jericho NY.  The property was purchased in 1653 by those looking for religious freedom. These 12,000 acres now encompass multiple municipalities in the area and the building where the inn now stands was officially built in 1672. To those familiar with the area, the Willets and Hicks families are well known, and Mary Willet was the one who began use of the inn. These families came to America for religious freedom. Quakers, as were the Willets and later the Hicks family who joined through marriage were devout pacifists. They were very advanced for the 1600’s and allowed women to speak freely within their congregations, and felt it was their religious obligation to support others in their communities. This put the Hicks Family in a precarious situation when quartering became mandatory by the British during the American Revolution, which began in 1775. This act required colonists to provide housing for soldiers including local inns, pubs, and stables. While trying to uphold their religious beliefs to help others, and also staunchly opposing war, there were periods of time that the Milleridge Inn housed Hessian and British soldiers during the Revolution.  Finally, after the completion of the war, the Milleridge Inn was open for guests. Even though they were able to house approximately 20 guests at a time, they always declined payment. They believed it was their responsibility to care for their new fellow Americans, as they were able. While there have been multiple renovations over the 300 years, the original 2 rooms still remain today. The Inn is now used as a restaurant, a wedding venue and has shops that help patrons envision life in early America.   

Haunted History:  In 2016 local media reports show the Inn opened several of the original rooms for guests to visit during the Halloween season and as recently as last year they promote their Halloween shops. There have been reports of chairs moving on their own, feelings of cold areas of the home, as well as disembodied footsteps. The most vivid encounter was by a renovator to the property that when left alone briefly by his colleagues saw a ghostly family of three, not feet away from him.