The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-12-24
9A igtella W.,
RecOIIeCfi0ns or the Oldcu Time.
First Series---No. 2.

SOUTHWESTERN VA, Jan. 10, 1869.
MEssRs. EDTToRs My former crude re-
Elections on the men and things of the OIL
den time in my native and beloved Hartford
having met unmerited kindness and cour-
tesy at your hands, l am encouraged to
devote another leisure hour to additional
thoughts in the same direction, which
should thoy fail to interest your readers
may not be improbable to myself, as | am
thus brought into re-communion with the
friends and incidents Of earlier and happier
days.
AS I have not seen Bel Air for forty years
or more, nor heard Of its changes and i'm
provements, save as | casually gather them
from your paper, it may not be improper
or out of place to call to mind some of its
features or peculiarities, as it was when !
left it to court the smiles of Fortune in the
"wide, wide world"
1t had, l think, at that time, about 400
inhabitants, nearly every one of whom
both white and black, l could name at
this day, If remember rightly, there was
but one brick building in the place, and
that was the hotel at the intersection of the
main street with the Baltimore road, kept
by old Mr.. McKenny, a jolly old gentleman
who loved to tell funny stories, and talk
about the "Mystic Brotherhood" He made
the first rude pavement that ever honored
the town, and that was constructed of bro
ken quartz covered with sand, reaching
from the hotel to the Court House. Col
William Richardson subsequently construc-
ted like walk from the Court House to hi.
hotel on the back street, as also did Mr.
Stephen Jones from the same common cen
tire to his hotel near the old jail. These
constituted all the pavements of any extent
in the town; and they of a very primitive
character.
I can see old Mr.. McKenny yet, with his
hat cut full of round holes, to let the air In
among his scanty locks, and as he cracked
his jokes and narrated his legends, to the
amusement and edifcation of all within
his circle. He had some peculiarities, and
among them but little fondness for bad
boys, and hence fear was no great favor
lite with him. l can also see William Rich
ardson, with the kindness of his heart re-
Elected in his jolly round face, as he played
his FRANKS upon his ostlers Esau and
Orange, and amused his guests beneath the
shade of the giant hickory that stood in
his yard. And Mr.. Jones, too, 1 still see
him in imagination, as he sat in his porch
teasing and caressing his Juvenile sene-
gambians, wondering if John Magness
would be in to aid him in serving his nu-
merous customers at next Court, and in
structing Classy how to make and turn a
jenny cake. l love to think of these good
old men of the past generation, and feel
that am better man after having con-
templated their virtues.
There were four stores in Bel Air at that
time, severally kept by 7. A. and N. W.
S. Hays, Parker Moores, Joseph and John
Robinson, Ephraim Lytle and Daniel
Wann. Mr.. Thomas A. Hays was one Of
the most enterprising as he was one of the
wealthiest men Of the county; his brother
Nat superintsnded the business, and was
also thrifty; old Mr.. Robinson was getting
old, very fond of Scotch snuff, which he
carried loose in his vest pocket, for the
sake of convenience Mr.. Moores died
young, was an excellent gentleman, and
kept the most tasty store in the town; Mr.
Lyle came to Bel Air a segar maker, in
very moderate circumstances, but by in
dustry and frugality amassed handsome
competence; and a better or more molten
sive man than Daniel Wann never lived OF
died.
The town had two resident physicians
They were bothpopular and well patronized
Drs. Alonzo Preston and Parker Forwood
Theformer died in the very zenith of his
useful career, and / hope the latter is
still living to enjoy the fruits of his labor
in green old age. Dr. Elijah Bond was
living in the vicinity, young physician o.
no ordinary promise, but his health was
such that he did not practise. He is the