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The museum will open a new exhibit, "KTM Comes Un-Hinged,'' in a second floor assembly room on Feb. 28. The assembly room is hidden behind a hinged wall at the tavern, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
The assembly room was used by "gentleman of the town would meet and discuss the pros and cons of remaining loyal to the King or becoming an independent nation,'' according to docent Cheryl Crowl in a video on the tavern's Facebook page.
The unhinged wall allowed for dances or larger meetings, Crowl said in the video. The unhinged piece of the wall latches to the ceiling
The assembly room could have also been used as sleeping quarters, or an extension area for drinking and dining.
Hildi Grob, the tavern's executive director, said the unhinged wall has not been put up before.
The historic tavern's initial structure was built in about 1713 by Benjamin Hoyt as a home. In 1769, the property was purchased by Hoyt's grandson, Timothy Keeler, who converted the building into an inn in 1772.
British forces fired on the tavern during the Battle of Ridgefield on April 27, 1777, because musket balls were made in the basement. A British cannonball was lodged into a corner post of the building, where it has remained ever since.
In 1907, the property was bought and used as a summer home by the famed architect Cass Gilbert, who designed and donated the landmark fountain across the street to the town of Ridgefield.
The museum is open from 1 to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. For more about the museum, visit its website or Facebook page.
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