Benny Havens - Highland Falls, New York
Posted by: BruceS
N 41° 20.896 W 073° 58.285
18T E 586049 N 4577929
Historical marker in cemetery where tavern owner Benny Havens is buried south of Highland Falls.
Waymark Code: WM47P7
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 07/18/2008
Views: 74
Benny Havens
Tavern owner of USMA Cadet fame buried at
this site. Marker inscribed with song title tribute 1789-1877. - text of
marker
I was not able to locate the gravestone on my
look around.
The song title referred to is Benny Havens, Oh!
From my copy of Bugle Notes, issued in 1976 on
entering the Academy:
"The most popular, and oldest, of all West Point
Songs still being sung is "Benny Havens, Oh!" Benny Havens himself was a
very real person about whom many traditions have entwined themselves.
Benny was here on and off in many capacities from 1804 to 1812, returning
permanently in the early 1820's. He opened a small tavern and his business
was so flourishing that the Superintendent barred him from the reservation.
Benny then opened a slightly larger establishment in Highland Falls and it was
here that the song "Benny Havens, Oh!" was born. Under the influence of
Benny's famous flip, Lieutenant O'Brien composed the first few stanzas of this
song to the tune of "The Wearin's o' the Green." Anecdotes
concerning Benny's tavern are numberless and became tradition when Benny passed
away in 1877. Innumerable stanzas have been added to the song and the most
popular are below.
Benny Havens, Oh!
Come fill your glasses, fellows, and stand up in
a row.
To singing sentimentally we're going for to go;
In the Army there's sobriety, promotion's very slow.
So we'll sing our reminiscences of Benny Havens, Oh!
Chorus:
Oh! Benny Havens, Oh! Oh! Benny Havens, Oh!
We'll sing our reminiscences of Benny Havens, Oh!
To our kind old Alma Mater, our rockbound
highland home.
We'll cast back many a fond regret as o'er life's sea we roam;
Until on our last battlefield the light of heaven shall glow.
We'll never fail to drink to her and Benny Havens, Oh!
- Chorus
May the army be augmented, promotions be less
slow.
May our country in the hour of need be ready for the foe;
May be find a soldier's resting place beneath a soldier's blow,
With room enough beside our graves for Benny Havens, Oh!"