The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-02-16
Old Times in wheeling.

Editors Of the lntelligenccr:
"Whcn this old hat was new" that'is
about the years lS25.26, the great Ma
tional Road was constructed, to terminate
at Wheeling, but like some OF the modern
railroads the great question to be decided
by our citizens was-where? The tOirn,
or the great business center lay along
Main and Market streets, between Union
and Washington streets, but the interests
oiIIfoytopn (now called Centre Wheeling)
prevailed, and the road was taken over
the Peninsular Hill, across the creek, in
East Wheeling, and again across tho
creek on Main street, and down Main to
Eoff7s ferry, and il any one desires to see
it nor, and will dig down, along the course
last named, about -four feet below the
present surface, they will find
we'll McAdamised road, formerly known
as the National. But things never did
run smooth herc-I mean public imprOre.
men1-for the contest became hot, not
only between the two ends Of the town,
but between the rival ferries. Now, at
that time, .Zane's ferry TO the Island was
ut the present Fifth street, and the First
ward school house is on the old ferry lot.
The Northeners prevailed, as they gener-
ally do, and the road was detected ut
Steenrod's, carried over the hill, and
down Washington to Main street, and
thence to the ferry. Su bsequently the
site, or landing, Of Zane's ferry was
moved down 10 Ninth street, then known
as Beymer's Landing. The location Of
the road originated the erection OF that
magnificent structure still standing on
the corner OF Washington and Mar
ket streets, then known US the "Black
Horse Tavern" very much as the
location of the Capital at Charles
ton built the "Hale House," and,
MS ! said before, both are still Standing
| think the "Black Horse was the very
first ia~rn erected in this city. Coinci-
dent with the last change Beymer's Tav-
ern, the Northwestern Bank and the
PostotIice, and various other buildings
were erected along that part Of Main
street, and this became the centre Of
trade. But alas for the mutability OF
human affairs. The ferry-landing was
moved down to the upper end OF the pres
ent wharf, and OF course the road follow
ed, and travellers were accommodated ut
tavern (now Fort Nichols) and
the Indian Queen (now st. James Hotel),
besides McCourtney's Tavern ION Main
above Quincy street, His wagon yard
was the general depot for unloading and
transhipping all the frcights and mer-
chandise for the great West. Business
sticks to that point until to-day. Speak.
ing OF business, trade, etc, remember one
morning there was n general shout OF ex'
ultation on the announcement in the Ga.
sette, that forty wagons loaded with mer-
chandise and emigrants had arrived the
day before. Twas so delighted that Wis.
tied the wagon-yard to satisfy myself Of
its truth, and saw about $50 persons (men,
women and children) weighed, who had
come on the wagons as freight. Speaking
OF tayerns, l should have mentioned Mo.
sier's tavern rs rival to the Black Horse,
and ms a,competitor OF last named ,Cresaps
or Mrs. Beck, occupying the present site
OF tho Exchange Bank. After this period
progress in wealth and population was SO
great that we ceased to have taverns: they
became hotels, and the Wheeling House or |
Virginia Hotel (now Grant House, and
United States (now St. James, were re.
modelled TO suit the times, 80 thatin 1884
the last named entertained 9,953 travellers
and the first l7,75l, the majority Of whom
came by stages over the National Road
or by steamboat. The population ut this
tins was about $500, and the arrivals OF
steamboats, probably ten times US great
us at this present writing. II was very
amusing 10 outsiders, but an intolerable
bore to traveller, when n steamboat
landed here, to see the opposition between
the hotels, demonstrated by an eager
crowd Of runners and servants, seizing
every trunk, and almost capturing the
owner for his patronage. As old recol.
lections arise you may hear from mo
again. sPEc.
IHhYling February 10, 1876.