Benny Havens - Highland Falls, New York - New York Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

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!"

Marker Name: Benny Havens Marker Type: Roadside City/Town/Village Name: Highland Falls County: Orange Region: Hudson Valley (Region 9) Agency: Not listed Dedication Date: Not Listed Website: Not listed

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