The tavern was built about 1818 and served as a public house for over 100 years. The old Bushnell's Basin Hotel was a pioneer canal hostelry. Prohibition forced Mrs. John Kossow, the owner, to sell to Charles Dobler of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Mr. Dobler made the hotel into a private home. The old hotel was standing on this site when the Erie Canal was started in 1825. It was abandoned in the 1960s. Andrew D. Wolfe and his wife Vivienne Tellier began restoring the building in 1978. On Valentine's Day, 1979, it was reopened as a restaurant named Richardson's Canal House.

The building has a brick lower level. Brick pillars support the second story, which extends beyond the lower floor at front and back. The central part of the second floor features a covered porch.

It is the oldest original inn on the Erie Canal. It has been placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings.

Date built (renovations):
ca. 1818. Renovated and restored in 1978.

Original owners and original use:
Owned first by John Pardee. Sold to John Hartwell in 1821 then William Bushnell in 1823, then Elias and Gould Richardson. Used as a public house and inn for canal workers, travelers, etc.

Subsequent Uses:
Remained a public house until the 1930’s when it was sold to a nudist group (Group only remained there briefly). Completely abandoned in 1960’s. Purchased and renovated by Vivienne Tellier and Andrew D. Wolfe in 1978. Opened as a restaurant in 1979.

Previous Buildings on site:
Originally a smaller farmhouse owned by John Pardee.

Sources:
LIBRAWeb (link to site)

Monroe County (NY) Library System (link to site)