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The Union Oyster House currently occupies the first
floor of the historic Capen building. The oyster house was established in
1826, and is reportedly the longest continuously operating restaurant in
the United States. The following is a brief history of the building,
excerpted
from Forty Of Boston's Historic Houses, published in 1912:
"The
Capen House, which stands at numbers 41 to 45 Union Street, bears evidence,
in its solid belted front wall and ancient roof, that it was built about the
beginning of the 18th century, although the northerly portion was apparently
built at a later period.
It is one of the oldest buildings in that locality.
Hopestill Capen was a shopkeeper in this building for many
yeasr before his death in 1807, and also a town official in Boston and a
sergeant for the Ancient & Honorable Company. He was "the master" to whom
was apprenticed in 1763 Benjamin Thompson, of Woburn, Mass., who later
became a distinguished scientist, and was known as Count Rumford. Thomas
Capen, a son of Hopestill Capen, succeeded his father as shopkeeper in the
old house, and owned the property at the time of his death in 1819.
Heirs of the Capen family had retained ownership well into the 20th century.
The oyster business has been conducted in the building from the year 1826
until the present time. It is also worthy of note that the Massachusetts
Spy was published in the building by Isaiah Thomas from 1771 to the
beginning of the Revolution, when it was removed to Worcester."
The Capen House is located on Boston's historic
Freedom Trail, with the
Boston Stone,
Holocaust Memorial,
Curley Park,
and Faneuil Hall, all within one
block of the restaurant.
Restaurant Contact Information
Phone Number: 617.227.2750
Web Site: www.unionoysterhouse.com
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