Nicholas Ulerich: Tavernkeeper

Encouraged by the editor of the Carlisle Herald newspaper to submit reminiscences for the entertainment of his readers, James Miller McKim wrote several lengthy articles under the pen name AGC. (A Genuine Carlisler.)

The February 8, 1872 edition of the newspaper contained McKim’s reminiscences of Carlisle in the 1820s and 1830s and included memories of Nicholas Ulrich and his tavern. McKim wrote:

“Ulrich’s tavern, indicated to the traveler by the Sign of the Lamb, was one of Carlisle’s most reputable hostelries. Mr. Ulrich himself, in his best days, was a valuable citizen and a useful public servant. As a host, he spread a bountiful table, and order ruled in his household. His family were above average in character; Mrs. Ulrich being a landlady of great notability, and her daughters, young ladies of uncommon excellence. At no public house in Carlisle did transient lodger or permanent guest find more comfortable quarters.”

“Mr. Ulrich used to give Sunday sauerkraut dinners, which were quite celebrated in their day, and to which a few select outsiders were sometimes invited. The savory dish, flanked by unctuous pieces of chine, and served smoking hot, was declared by the gourmands, food fit for the gods, and too good for mortals who could not appreciate it. Albeit, not an especially digestible dish, it was considered perfectly harmless when floated through by vin du pays, known in common parlance as Monongahela whiskey.”

Before settling in Carlisle, Nicholas Ulerich kept the tavern at the “Sign of the Rising Sun” on the Carlisle Pike. When Ulerich took over the “Sign of President Jefferson” tavern on East High Street in Carlisle in 1810, he renamed it the “Sign of the Lamb.” At that time, there were 24 other taverns in Carlisle. With so many taverns vying for business, Ulerich had an advantage when, in 1813, a new stage line was established. The stage ran three times a week leaving Baltimore on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings and arriving the next afternoon at Ulerich’s “Sign of the Lamb.” The stage left his tavern at 8 o’clock in the morning three days a week.^[1]

In 1819, Ulerich entered into an agreement with James Duncan to purchase the western half of Lot #170 on East High Street, next to the Market House. So, he moved across the street, took his tavern sign with him, hung it in front of his tavern door, and began operation at the “Sign of the Lamb” there.

In his reminiscences in the Carlisle Herald, McKim wrote: “In front of Mr. Ulrich’s, on market mornings, there officiated an old public functionary, of the name of Thomas James, whose business it was, as town crier, to knock down pots and pans and old chairs to the highest bidder. His manner of ringing his bell—accompanying each stroke with an inward “knock” of his right knee—used to be occasion of mirth and matter of imitation to idle boys.”^[2]

In 1820, Nicholas’s wife, Mary, advertised that her son-in-law, George Critzman, would take over the running of the tavern.  By 1823, Ulerich was running the tavern again, and he was also selling German clocks to the influx of German residents in the county.  In the spring of 1823, he advertised that he expected a new assortment of German clocks.  Musical clocks, he advertised, cost from $25 to $35; Eight day clocks from $8 to &10; Cuckoo clocks from $6 to $7; and common clocks from $3 to $4. In 1834 Ulerich sold his property to James Noble.^[3] When the 1835 tax assessment was taken, Ulerich was listed as an innkeeper with a half lot and a log  barn on Pomfret Street, three acres of out lots, one horse and two cows. The 1840 U. S. Census revealed that he was aged between 60-70 years old and his wife was aged between 50-60.

Nicholas Ulerich died on December 6, 1847, aged 73 years.^[4] His wife, Mary, and several daughters are buried in Carlisle’s Old Graveyard, but there is no marker for Nicholas.

Nicholas and his wife were the parents of the following five daughters and a son. Daughter Mary Ulerich married George Critzman, joiner of Carlisle, on September 12, 1816. Daughter Sarah married Adam Wert of Mifflin, Pennsylvania on August 3, 1825. Daughter Catharine married William Henderson and died in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania on February 14, 1831, aged about 25. Daughter Julia married Nathaniel Hantch on October 13, 1836, and daughter Harriet never  married. Records of the First Lutheran Church of Carlisle record that Nicholas and Maria (Mary) had a son Joseph born on June 20, 1816, who must have died shortly thereafter, because another son was born on December 17, 1819, whom they also named Joseph.^[5]