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NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - Talk about time honored! Established in 1817, the Ear Inn in Greenwich Village is one of New York's oldest bars and the history starts before you step inside.
When this townhouse was built in 1770, the Hudson River was less than 5 feet from the front door. A plaque marks the river's old shoreline. The building was constructed around 1770 for James Brown, an African aide to George Washington. He is depicted here in the famous painting of the Delaware crossing. His apartment upstairs remains largely untouched to this day.
The area has worn many hats over the years. It was a boarding house, a smugglers' den, a doctor's office, a brewery and a brothel. Legend has it a friendly ghost named Mickey still makes an occasional appearance.
For years the untitled bar was simply called The Green Door but was given its current name by owner Richard Hayman who bought the place in the late 1970s. All this rich history not lost on its patrons.
The bar downstairs has that come stay a while feeling. Peter Creedon has been doing just that for more than 30 years. He even has a led picture of a bachelor party taken here 25 years ago.
Inside the old wood floors are slanted. Old photos and paintings are everywhere. And an occasional ear crops up, just to remind you where you are.
In a city where things change faster than the speed of light, this is a slice of classic New York.