Est. 1948

Our History

It started as a television bar on Route 113. Here’s the story.

Regulars at the original curved bar at Stockley Tavern, mid-century
Regulars at the original curved bar

Stockley Tavern was originally opened as the “Stockleyville Tavern and Television Bar” in 1948 by Will Rogers. Television was in its infancy at that time and the only stations were in Philadelphia and Baltimore, so few people had televisions.

In about 1953/54, Stockley Tavern was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Dan McCarren. The McCarrens lived in Lake Hopatcong, N.J. He owned a fleet of tug boats that worked the harbor in New York City. They were driving to Florida for vacation and passed by the tavern and noticed it was for sale. Looking for a place to invest some money, he decided to buy it and hired Linwood “Cleve” Calloway to run it for him.

Cleve worked at the tavern for Mr. McCarren until November 1963 when Mr. McCarren passed away and ownership was taken over by his son, Jim McCarren.

Cleve was still employed at the tavern when it was bought by Ed Veasey in the mid to late 60s, and continued until about 1973 when poor health forced him to retire.

Cleve passed away in March 1976 at the age of 66.

Timeline

1948 to Today

  • 1948Will Rogers opens the Stockleyville Tavern & Television Bar.
  • 1953Mr. and Mrs. Dan McCarren buy it and hire Linwood “Cleve” Calloway to run it.
  • 1963Dan McCarren dies in November; his son Jim McCarren takes over. Cleve stays on.
  • 1960sEd Veasey buys the tavern. Cleve manages until about 1973.
  • 1976Linwood “Cleve” Calloway passes away in March, at age 66.
  • TodaySame corner of Route 113, seventy-eight years on.
Original newspaper advertisement: Stockleyville Tavern, Television Bar, Beer Wine Liquor, 4.5 miles south of Georgetown on Route 113. Prop. W. Rogers.
The original advertisement · Prop. W. Rogers · Georgetown 209-R-1
From the archive

Faces from the tavern

Archival photo collage of Stockley Tavern staff and regulars
Caption (from left to right): Linwood “Cleve” Calloway (app. 1955), Mr. Daniel Mccarran and Cleve Calloway (app. 1960), Clara Holston worked for Cleve for many years. She is pictured with a gentlemen who lived in PA but came to Sussex County on business frequently.
Archival photo of the bar at Stockley Tavern
(Seated from right-left) Cleve Calloway, Clyde Joseph (black hat), and friends of the bar.
A 1954 postcard view related to Stockley Tavern
From the archive, 1954.