The historic inn located on Main Street in Newark has had an interesting history, so maybe it;s not surprising that folks hear odd noises in the place. And the front door ssems to have a mind of its own, opening by itself now and then. The spot now occupied by the Deer Park Tavern was once the location of St. Patrick's Inn which burned to the ground but prior to that nasty event, it had been a popular gathering spot. In 1843, Edgar Allan Poe visited the inn whie he was in town for a lecture and stumbled out of his carriage. Apparently, he was so upset that he placed a curse on the place. It must have worked as it was soon after that the Inn was destroyed by fire.

James Martin purchased the property in 1848 and after clearing away the rubble, built the current brick building that houses the Deer Park tavern today