On the way home from Oneida with Nick the other day, I decided to swing by Pratt's Hollow, the geographical center of New York and show off a slice of my ole stomping grounds. The infamous Coon Rod. In my twenties, usually the thought would hit our drunken heads at the Loose Goose, now the Hour Glass to hop in our car and make the trek out to see Butch at the Coon Rod. You'd get your beers in a ball jar while getting poked from secrete holes in the wall under the bar. The coon dogs were freaking hot and you'd eat them in barber chairs. I'd almost always trip on the little step that went into the next room from the bar and alway's end up with a guitar jamming some old Dead tunes or what ever song came about. Most everybody had something to special to say and it was said all over the bath walls. The Coon Rod. Everyone who lives in Central New York likely had tipped a few at this unique slice of life in Central New York. Rumor has is Butch won the lottery some time ago and I don't think its been opened since. The last time I saw Butch was at the Big Moose Inn in the dimly lit bar. I was standing there counting change behind the bar and after hearing the door open, I turned around and there he was. Butch from the Coon Rod. Very strange.
22 comments:
Sadly, and regretfully - Butch has passed on, gone to that big bluegrass jam in the Sky -- July 2015. The legend of the Coonrod will live forever in the hearts & minds of those who frequented the place. Butch & the Coonrod will be fondy remembered & sadly missed. So long, Butch -- it's been good to know ya'.
Remembering when us Colgate Inn Crew would pop in after work. Had it be like 15 of us. Good times had by all.
I can remember during a bad snow storm Butch said he couldn't make it back to Coonrods. I was working and there were patrons in the bar who couldn't make it up the hill to Morrisville so we hunkered down for the night. We ran out of fuel oil and the bar was getting cold so we searched around and found some old broken chairs in the back and stocked up the wood stove. When Butch did arrive he wasn't aware we were out of heating oil. When he found out we burned up some chairs he wasn't to happy...they were antiques. He got over it though. RIP Butch.
Bob and I have lived next to the coonrod for over 20 years. Butch and Nancy had a dog dish behind the bar for our border collie "Lilly" who they welcomed anytime even after she nipped Butch once. Butch always called Gabrielle " his girl" and on occasion let her accompany us. We know his spirit still walks the streets in Pratts Hollow keeping us all safe. Rest in peace our friend!
Bob, Maggie and Gabby Panzone
I can remember a couple of winters there, when Butch had some bands featured as entertainment, that the price of admission was a hunk or two of firewood for the wood stove. It was sometimes so cold in the winter that ice would form on the floor behind the bar if you happened to spill any water there.
Just checking my understanding here. Butch passed away in July of 2015? How sad. What a nice guy. And the Coonrod will forever be the best bar I ever stepped foot into.
There is a strong possibility the Coonrod may re-open. It won't take place for a while, but an interested party is negotiating the purchase, and hopes to return it to the same beloved, musically centered museum of oddities that it always was, just a Butch left it - a legacy to good times & great friends and great music. I will keep you posted. It may take a year.
Wow was reading your snippet of your memory of the Coonrod, same story here, and then I came to the part about BMI and my heart skipped a bit, I too worked and lived at BMI 1979, 80 and then again in 84, loved that place and the people
I loved the Coonrod, I started going when I was underage, but for some reason it fit. I remember the blue grass bands, jug bands, and dancing with Roscoe Ward. Later I heard it became a hang out for various politicians, a hide out so to speak. I miss the old spider on the roof and the front entrance spray painted...der door.One night the place was packed and the ladies bathroom flooded...andthe music kept on playing in 3 inches of water. Same thing happened at Uncle Dicks on night too. Probably had something to do with the weather. I miss the days and nights at the Coonrod.
My brother Peter and Butch were great friends and I played Bluegrass with them many nights. Butch taught my brother how to play the banjo. I would mostly join in with a nice 12 string acoustic. Magical nights with beer in the mason jars, playing pool, the great wall of graffiti in the bathroom. Old life size cardboard cutouts of Bartles and James. After Butch hit the Lotto, he told me he opened a bar he operated in the Florida Keys for a while. Later he would open the bar in Pratts Hollow on occasion. Sure miss that place and Butch. He was a very nice man and great musician.
Wow, loved that place. I started going there in August of 1970 and Mrs. Conrad (Coon Rod) was still running it. I think her husband had died or was ill and she was running it by herself. Beer was 20 cents a 12 oz glass and that's why we would go there over from Morrisville. It was getting run down already she couldn't do the upkeep. It was an old inn from the 1800's, I think a stagecoach stop she use to say. Years later after moving to Michigan for awhile we moved back and Butch had taken over from Mrs. Conrad. He was a great guy, beer in the Ball jars, easy chairs, barber chairs it was great once you could find Der Door in the dark to get in. There was a plywood door no handle and he always opened later at night. It was said he didn't have a liquor license but instead it was a party and you could give a donation. The hot dogs were great, but he gave you a tooth pick to put the German mustard on with it was so hot, he said be careful just a toothpick's worth and he was right! Sometime in the wee hours of the night if you stayed long enough he would bring out some booze he got in Germany and he would share a shot, he said only for his good friends. He won the lottery twice I think, he went to Florida, opened a bar, but he said he loved the people in upstate NY and came back. Nice guy, good memories, loved that place, Butch was a legend in his own time.
I lived in Maggie's house before her family and my Mom was born in one of the houses across the street when the Coonrod was Conrad's Hotel. When I was very young In the 1970s there was quite a fire there at the Coonrod. I spent many nights there in later years with family. I couldn't find an obituary-- Did it happen elsewhere?
Sulyn, Nancy did not have it in the obits. She had a few get together for friends at the "Hill" and Dunns Bar in Oneida. We toasted to him and the memories. He passed away at home.
The Coonrod just reopened this past Friday evening, January 12, 2018. We stopped in on Saturday, January 13th and it looks great. Dave and Jo greeted us and while it was a bit bittersweet being in the Coonrod without Butch and Nancy behind the bar, the place is cleaned up and with a bit more lighting. It looks great! Same barber chairs, same great music and same friendly atmosphere. I heard there may be music in the future but that that hasn't been scheduled yet. Worth a stop in!
I only knew how to get there by memory/landmarks and am not sure I could find it now. I'll be in the area this weekend - what's the best route there from Hamilton? Thanks!
The coonrod and Butch were an amazing place for music for so many years. My sister Dorian tended bar there for years and the gatherings there were something special . Glad to hear it reopened .
I understand it will be open this Friday from 8pm till midnight! The place is cleaned up with a good amount of light and the pool table and skeet ball ball are working well. Was there on and toured the place. The best way from Hamilton is take rt 12b to Rt. 20. Turn left, then take Rt.46 N to Pratts Rd. (first left turn) take that to Pratts Hollow. Once you enter the hamlet it will be on your right hand side, at the first 4 way intersection. You will enter at "DER DOOR"!
Thanks Allen! - open Saturday too?
Anyone know if it’s open this summer?
I had the pleasure of visiting the Coonrod in the mid 80s the place was a great getaway from the world.
I still crave the coon dogs with the mustard. Anyone know about that mustard I sure would like to have it again.
My hubby & I just discovered this wonderful place! It's very surreal with all the signs, graffiti & bits of history. Beer in Ball jars. Coondogs are delicious with super hot homemade mustard! Best kept secret in CNY!
Yvonne & David Ayer
Nelson, NY
When did it re-open?
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