Program

NYS Historic

Subject

House, People, Site

Location

83 S Main St, Homer, NY 13077, USA

Lat/Long

42.632870439544, -76.178893973369

Grant Recipient

Town of Homer

THE INVERTED DECANTER.

A landlord once, from a mere banter,
Tipped up his sparkling full decanter;
But mark! the spirit of the cargo
Soon laid on him a snug embargo.
After a sleep of almost death,
The landlord waked quite out of breath;
And rubbing up his watery eyes,
In plaintive accents thus he cries:
“Is this the way you cut your caper,
Thus to put out life’s glowing taper;
And lay me here on my Beam-ends,
As bad as dead to foes and friends?

Above is a poem, believed to be composed by George Washington Samson, which appeared in the Cortland County Whig on May 30^th, 1844. It tells quite the tale: A rough night, an empty bottle and an innkeeper left feeling the worse for wear.

Thus, an advocate for temperance was born.

According to a posthumous biography written about Samson featured in the June 1st, 1883, issue of the Cortland County Democrat, the man lived an interesting life. Originally from Massachusetts, he set out to sea as a sailor early on. While sailing he was briefly captured by a French cruiser, released, and then travelled to various ports in Spain, Portugal, France, England, and the West Indies. After which he returned to Massachusetts to run his father’s farm for a spell before once again setting out—this time by land for Cortland County in 1812.

Here, he would run several public houses and inns, including “Mount Etam” between Cortland and Truxton, before purchasing “Wisdom’s Gate” in 1850. The building is believed to have been constructed in 1816 according to the National Register of Historic Places entry for the Historic District of Homer, and it had operated as a public house for much of its existence. Though Samson had served as a keeper of the inn before buying it, with his purchase the “Washington House” was renamed “Wisdom’s Gate,” and in April of 1850 a number of advertisements highlighting the “strictly temperance principles” of the establishment began appearing in local newspapers.

Those stopping at “Wisdom’s Gate” would likely find Samson, a known raconteur, telling stories from his travels. They would also find the inverted decanter from the poem hanging over the bar, “bottom-up cork out” with a copy of the poem attached, explaining the landlord’s reason for not selling spirits.

After Samson retired from business, his son, Isaac, took over ownership of “Wisdom’s Gate.” He continued to run it as a public house and livery stable, until ill health prevented him from doing so. After Isaac’s death the family sold the former inn.

Today “Wisdom’s Gate” is a private residence in the Historic District of Homer. This marker commemorates the building’s history as an important stopover in the 19^th century where one could find interesting conversation…but no libations.