About Us
Orleans has always been a town to extend a helping hand. During the American Revolution, for example, Orleans residents outfitted the Continental Army with beef, shirts, stockings, boots, and blankets. So, at the turn of the 19th Century, it was no surprise that the town constable Henry Perry offered the front bedroom of his house on West Road (now the Old Jailhouse Tavern) as a Saturday night lockup. He was the only law enforcement officer in town at the time, and there was no place on Saturday nights to transport those who would flaunt the law.
Perry, a friendly and trusting soul, simply locked his prisoners in a spare bedroom, secured with window locks, and retired to his room for a good night’s sleep. In the morning, the prisoners were usually taken up Cape to more secure surroundings. The stone walls of Constable Perry’s house frame the tavern room today. Here you can literally rub up against history.
When the late Lynne Hirst bought the neglected old Perry House back in 1982, the thick fieldstone walls were covered in stucco. Ms. Hirst’s desire and Cape architect Anthony Ferragamo’s ability to preserve a bit of local history locked up a national award in 1984 for the restaurant’s design. The vision was to create a restaurant where there was something for everybody and the oak-paneled Old Jailhouse Tavern, with its polished jail cell bars which are always open, three unique dining areas, etched glasswork and handsome oak bar offers exactly that - an eclectic menu of fresh seafood and traditional New England fare. We also have a great selection of salads, light fare, daily specials and much more all in a casual, comfortable atmosphere surrounded by beautifully landscaped grounds.
It wasn’t long after the Old Jailhouse Tavern opened its doors back in 1984 that Ms. Hirst already had plans for the two and a half acres located at the back of the restaurant. In response to overwhelming requests from guests to host private function in the main restaurant, the elegant Courthouse was established in 1994 in order to accommodate and host private events.