The first tavern in Salem was opened soon after the settlement of the town in 1764.

The first tavern in Salem was opened soon after the settlement of the town in 1764, by James Turner, in a log house built by him on the site of the building known for many years as the Ondawa House and later on as Abrams’ department store.

This tavern was kept by him until his death in 1773 and was continued by his widow; and afterward, by David Thomas and Alexander J. Turner.

Sometime near the turn of the century the building was known as Union Hall.

When he retired from the business, Mr. Turner built a brick dwelling house on the lot, taking the place of the old tavern, and resided there for some time, until he left the village to reside in Albany.

The dwelling house with an addition on the south end was turned into a tavern, called the Washington Coffee House, and was kept by Major George Reab. He was succeeded by his son, Col. Josiah Reab, and in April 1825 by Major Andrew Freeman, until his death in 1829. 

Hall and Fitch followed and were succeeded by Col. Joseph Hanks, who kept the tavern at the time of its destruction in the great fire in September 1840, which destroyed twenty buildings in the village.

During 1841, the building was reconstructed mainly on the old foundation, with twenty-five feet added on the south end making it seventy-five feet long. Upon completion, the tavern was opened by Col. Hanks in the spring of 1842. The following summer the property was leased to Pratt and Martin who kept the house open until the winter of 1844.

In January 1844, James Gibson with others, purchased the property, and soon afterward, he became the sole owner.

From February 5, 1844 to 1858, the house was leased to successive proprietors, Chester Safford Jr., Merritt and More, and John Howe.

The building was then thoroughly repaired by Mr. Gibson and reopened for business under the management of Henry Frink. From 1861 until 1867, the tavern was operated successively by M.H. Lockwood, Jones and Wheelock, George W. Rider, and William C. Scarritt.

The Ondawa Hotel was named for the Native Americans hunting and growing crops on the lands south of the present village.

In June 1867, Mr. Hugh R. Cowan became the proprietor and opened the tavern on strictly temperance principles, and continued to operate it until 1874. Mr. Gibson then sold the property to Mrs. Elizabeth Potter who kept it until her death, My. Potter continued to operate the tavern. In 1877, it was leased to White and Shannon who became the owners in April 1878.

In 1878 the first telephone lines in Salem connected the Ondawa House to a residence in the southern end of the village, a distance of nearly a mile.

In the late 1800s, Mr. James McNaughton became the proprietor followed by Mr. Harvey Cruickshank.

In the early 1900’s Mr. Andres J. Haggart became the owner of the hotel.

In 1916 Mr. Philip Quirk was the lessee under the management of the Haggart estate.

In May 1916, the famous old hostelry was sold to Mr. Adolph Abrams and his son Mr. Mark Abrams. 

Mr. Quirk became the proprietor of the old Central House, next to the railroad tracks, and used the name of his old hotel, the Ondawa, for his new establishment. This change of names has been a source of confusion. 

Abrams improved the property and the building was remodeled throughout. In February 1919 Abrams & Son, the men’s clothing store, moved from Proudfit Hall to the newly remodeled store; Mrs. Adolph (Jennie) Abrams opened a millinery and ladies clothing store in the northern section. Later in the year, the old veranda was removed and new display windows were added to the store. Mrs. Belle Flannery ran a boarding house with meals in the Abrams Block around 1920.

 Living apartments were made on the second floor. The handsome old building was converted into a business block that has been a credit to the village for many years.

Adolph Abrams retired from the mercantile business in 1927, the same year that his wife died. Mark Abrams became the proprietor of the department store, and his wife Ella managed the ladies’ department. During the mid-’30s, Louis Wayman started working in the Abrams Department Store and continued to be the chief store clerk until his death in 1961. Hattie West joined the Abrams personnel during the Christmas season. Following Prohibition, Henry Prindle opened a liquor store behind the ladies’ department. In 1935 Adolph was struck by a car while visiting relatives in the New York City area and died. 

In 1936 Mark Abrams opened a Christmas annex in the area formerly occupied by Henry Prindle. Following World War 2, Mark’s son, Jack, joined the family business.

A copper plaque on the left front side of the building placed there by the General John Williams chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, in 1959, marks the site of the Turner Cabin. It is inscribed:
TURNER’ CABIN
Was built in 1762 by James Turner, Joshua Conkey, and Hamilton McCollister. In 1764 they brought their families from Pelham, Mass. to form the first settlement in this place. 

Jack Abrams became the proprietor of the store when Mark died in 1963.

Jack renovated the store in 1968 and continued to serve customers in this location until he sold the building to the Agricultural Asset Management Company in 1981.

Steve Abrams, Jack’s son, remembered the store during the ‘60s… “We lived above our store and my grandparents lived across the hall. For us the store was more than a business, it was the gathering point for our family. All of the relatives would come to Salem from all parts to visit in the store. One of my fondest recollections is that the store was not only a gathering point for our family, but it was also a place where many people from Salem came to stop and visit. The hallway between the Men’s and Ladies’ sides was always filled with conversation and opinions, my father and grandfather not excluded!

I am sure thousands of people sat in those chairs over the years; a lot came in almost every day--Harold Avery, Ella McMann, Frank Wurm, Earl, and Bess Web. I can remember how I hoped Marilyn Capuano and Jane Hardy would stop by so I could play with Guy [Capuano] and Mike Hardy in the toy department. I can’t help but believe a lot of problems were solved in that hallway.

Main Street was quite busy back then and most people shopped in Salem. It seemed like people were everywhere on Bonanza Night. I still remember my Dad letting me pick the winning gift certificate. All the stores were open until 9:00 PM, and it was truly a community event. I believe it was every Friday night during the summer.”

Agricultural Asset Management Company (Ag Assets) purchased The Ondawa from Jack Abrams in 1981 and renovated the downstairs into offices. Ag Assets is in the building through the 80’s into the early 90’s before being shut down.

The 90’s

The 2000’s

Black and White Antiques
Dr. Adelfred E. Bryer, Chiropractor had an office in the small retail space on the north side of the building.
Robyn Scutt opens Faerydale Consignments and Gifts in August, 2011. Faerydale later moved to the current Greenwich, NY location in 2019.

Yzobella LLC. purchases The Ondawa in January, 2021.

The Eneidi family moves into the building Spring, 2021.