Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-09-08
IN AND ABOUT TOWN.
NO v.
A REMIN1scENcE-THE DAYS or THE REvo
LuTIoN-THE ODD FELLOWS HAI1-OrR
SCHOOLS.
A REMIN1scENcE.

We notice that the Board of Directors of
the Bank OF Wilmington and Brandywine
are making decided improvements in their
Banking House. at the corner of Second and
Market streets. Where the Bank now stands
many years ago was a building occupied hy
MIR. John Patterson, father of John C. Patter-
son, Attorney at Law, as Dry Goods store
1t was among the largest stores of the kind
IN Wilmington. On the southeast corner in
the days of the Revolution, stood an old
house, long the residence of Thomas Wallace.
a block-maker by trade By industrious
habits he had amassed a considerable sum of
money before the Declaration of Indepen-
dence made the colonies free and indenen-
dent States. y During the progress of the
war, being an ardent patriot he exchang-
ed his money freely for the old Continental
currency. When the British had possession
of this city, the notes issued by the Continen-
tai Congress would not pass, and as conse.
quence, he found himself in straightcned cir
cumstances and was compelled to RELY upon
the generosity of kind neighbor, Mr.. Shall.
cross, for means to supply his family. While
this condition of things was existing. one day
British soldier came to Mr. Wallace's and
implored his wife to bake some bread for him.
She was staunch supporter of the cause Of
the revolutionists, but out of pity for the
poor fellow, she made him AN excellent batch
OF bread, He was so delighted with it that
he insisted that she should take one-half OF
the flour for her services. She consented
and from that day forward she baked bread
not only for the soldiers but for most of the
families living in that vicinity. BY thi.
means she made considerable money and
erected large brick building on the site OF
her frame tenement, some years after tho
close of the revolution. During the reyolu
ton, relative of Mr.. Wallace, died with tb,
consumption just about the time the battl,
OF Brandywine was fought, An officer ofth,
Britisharmy seeing the house closed, and pre-
suming that there were some wounded mel
from the battlefield in it called with g,arc
and demanded admission He was invited
in by Mr.. Wallace, and requested 10 stat,
his business. The officer enquired why tn,
house was closed, and whether the old zen
tleman took sides with the "Rebels" or tn,
government. Mr. Wallace told him tina
there was a corpse in the house, and that tn
young man had died from consumption IL
also informed him that his most earnes
prayers were for the success of the patriot.
cause, and that were ii not for his are. ii
Woild be in the service of his country. TIL
oficer assured him that he was a brave oil
fellow at least to thus boldly avow his senti
ments in the presence of British guard, ant
after searching the house to see that thcr
were no firearms about Withdrew with hi
men. daughter of Mr.. Wallace married
Captain Thomas Baker, Il native of Boston
He left this port in the brig Welcome Return
in the year 1915, for ST. Thomas, West In
dies, and was never heard of arerward,
The presumption is that the vessel was wreck
ed and not soul was left to tell the tale
His widowdied at Elkton, Nd, in August
1852. The house was purchased shol
time since from the heirs of Mrs Baker. Il
John v Christy.
THE ODD FELLOWS HALL.
Our citizens will be gratitied as well (;
those persons connected with public exhib
tons, to learn that the Board of Directors {
) the Odd Fellows Hall Company, have ha,
the saloon in that building thoroughly reno
Yated, and fitted up in a style which is reall
elegant The walls of the saloon, tickc
office, and Secretary's and Treasurer's office
have been papered by Mr. Joel V. Green
man, in beautiful manner, and the wood
work has been repainted by Mr.. S. n. Foge
altogether combining to render it one of m
finest hallsin the city in point of appearance
The staging has been repaired, and adapte
10 the wants of all desiring to rent it for lie,
lures, concerts or high-toned amusements ,
any character. The walls of the vestibul
and stairway have been cleaned and painted
1t will be a source of relief TO til
moral portion of the community 10 learr
that in these days, when licentiousness an
crime are at a premium, when dens wher
damning poison is dealt out TO blight tb
prospects and destroy the health of our risin
generation are 10 be met with in such alarm
ing numbers; when the miserable, blear-eye
bloats that nightly congregate in these ST
looms can control the body polite III
Board of Directors have solemnly declare
that in the future the Hall shall not b