In the interest of fostering a sense of pride for Hamilton College’s past, and to connect this past with Hamilton’s present and future,

The Spectator

has decided to re-publish a collection of archived articles.

The Spectator

will feature pieces from this week published in years past.

By Bonnie Carr ’95

Originally published October 9, 1992

A popular off-campus bar has been shut down indefinitely after Clinton Police raided the building and found as many as 40 underaged Hamilton students on the premises.

Complaints against the popular Hamilton student hangout Nell’s Cellar Down Under led Clinton Police to investigate possible Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC) licensing violations on September 26 and resulted in the bar’s close.

Kirkland and Clinton Police Chief Dan English said police made a “routine check based on noise complaints” from nearby residents. Neighbors also reported seeing young adults outside the bar behaving as if they were intoxicated, English said.

English explained that the three police officers who responded to the call were not there to shut down the bar or clear it out. “We [tried to] work with the establishment and let them know that ABC laws are in effect,” he said.

“Packed with Freshmen”

Derrick Johns ’95 witnessed the incident. He reported that there were approximately 40 underage people in the bar when police arrived. The officers “lined everyone up and took names of underage patrons,” Johns said.

Dylan Ade ’95 was also there. He said that he “had only been there around five minutes” when the police arrived. “People started getting nervous,” Ade said. “It was mainly packed with freshmen.”

Police reported 13 people for possessing alcohol with intent to consume. There were no arrests, but charges could be brought up against them if the department chooses to do so. English said that he could not specify whether any of the violators were Hamilton students or release their names since they may be called on as witnesses in an investigation.

Ade said officers took down the name and license of the bartender who, according to Johns, was taken away by the police. The bartender now faces possible arrest for serving alcohol to minors, English said.

Nell’s Closes

Nell’s Cellar is owned by the Alexander Hamilton Inn. The Inn’s general manager Barbara Thayer said yesterday that they were checking identifications for legal proof of age on the night of the incident.

English said the incident is “being treated as an ABC violation on the part of the business.” An investigation is now underway, and the ABC ruling is expected by the end of the week. Nell’s faces possible suspension or revocation of its liquor license.

Thayer said that this is not the first time the restaurant has heard complaints against Nell’s. Alexander Hamilton managers decided to close Nell’s as a result of “the license being jeopardized” and previous “complaints from guests and local people,” Thayer said.

“We just felt that it was best to close it,” Thayer explained.

Thayer added that she thought some of the complaints came from Hamilton College officials. Other sources have said that President Payne made the report himself.

English said only that complaints came from “local residents.” Payne denied knowledge of any college official filing police complaints.

“I really don’t know of any college official complaining,” he said. Payne added that anyone who is associated with Hamilton College could make complaints as private citizens outside of their responsibilities to the college.

“We’re not in the business of hunting our students to the ends of the earth,” Payne said.

Nell’s is not the only local bar that has had complaints about underage drinkers. However, “Nell’s Cellar was one that was concentrated on,” English said.

Police will be making “spot checks” of other bars, according to English, to try to prevent the serving of minors.

Other local bar owners were confident about facing spot checks. Mark Smith of Don’s Rok said news of possible spot checks “does not surprise me.”

There are “always going to be underage people trying to get service,” he said. “We try very hard to prevent serving underage people.”

Tony Urbanowicz of the Garden Café said he is “not concerned” about the checks. “We’ve been carding real hard this year,” he said, adding that while people of any age may go to the café for food, they must provide a valid New York State driver’s license showing that they are 21 to purchase alcohol.

“I’m not going to lose my liquor license for a $5 pitcher of beer from the kids,” Urbanowicz said.