The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-03-17

A PEEP INTO THE PAsT-Two OLD LAND
MARKS AND THEIR HIsToRY.-The old land
marks about the city are fast disappearing
from our midst, and houses of more modern
structure, better adapted to the wants and
,lSascs of the times, are making their appear
apce. Two old buildings well and widely
known in their day have recently been de-
moll>hed. One Of them, KNOWN in the" old
tines us the City Hotel, stood on the north
east corner of Main and Nineteenth streets.
and was for many years the first tavern OF
the city. 1t was built by Mr.. Gabriel Gait
in 1172-more than q hundred years ago
and was by him kept as tavern, and was
continued as such until about 1918, when the
Union Hotel was built directly opposite to it
on Main street. After its dlSrlse as hotel
it fell into various hands until finally
it was taken by MeSsrs. Smith & Parker and
used as nmchinc-shop. Many of our citi-
Zens will remember tie low and long porch
which extended the whole length OF the
building on. Main street, and which in old
times was used either as 4 promenade or Il
place for gentlemen to sit in the evening and
wa ch the passcrs.by, us is the wont in all
IN Ill towns such as Richmond was at that
tim.
About ten years after building this tavern
Mr.. Gait, for the purpose OF increasing tht
patronage Of his house, gave the Masons the
lot of ground on Franklin street now occu-
pied by the wcll-known Masons' Hall. By
means Of Il lottery money was raised to build
the present structure.
Boyd's Tavern isanOther old landmark not
so well known to those of our citizens now
living, but it has stood greater length of
time; and to the generations which have pre-
ceded ours was even better known than
the old building whose history we have
sketched. 1t stood on the northeast cor
ner of Main and Twenty-second streets,
and has just been pulled down to
make way for two new stores or tenement
houses. Of the earlier history Of this house
we have been able to find no record. The
first time we tind it mentioned it is called
"Boyd's Tavern" In 1913 it is spoken of
in deed from Buchanan to William Young
as "Boyd's old tenement" So it must have
been built many years prior to that period.
Another indication of its great age Is the fact
that it fronted on Main street dlaSonaIiy,
showing that 1t was built before the streets
were laid off in this the oldest portion OF the
city. The old records show that there was
once road running between this house ana
the site Of the present cOurt-house-Whlch
house was built about l1SO-folioWinS the
rayine which ran through the squares No"
bounded by Main and Franklin and Twenty
second and Twenty fifth streets, striking what
is now Twenty street about its inter
section with Franklin street, and thence up
the hill by ST. Johns church, the oldest
house of worship in the city.
At all early period in the present century
"Bovd's Tavern" " ceased to be house o'
entertainment for man and beast, ana tne
"tavern " was moved over to the opposite
side of Twenty-second street. THIS house i
remembered by some few of our older clIl
zens. and who speak of the " Courthouse
Tavern" US the best then in the city, aho
where everybody" who was "anybody .
put up when they came to the city.
Niany "reminiscences of the past are calel
I'D by these old records. 1t would be inter
esling to call over the long list OF dignltaries
who sat down at their tables, or led the
Lclles of those days in the fashionable dances
of the period, where the only music was
that made by negro fiddler.
Many coach and four with its IlyerleC
driver, footmen, and out-riders, has stopped
before their doors, and the ladies and gentle
men been politely handed in by the landlord