Daily Republican., 1879-07-09
A HOUSE WITH A HIsTORf,

Colonel M0ere's Csntemplnte,
ImpPOvensents. --s ,g.a r..
With advancing years evidences tha
connect our city's. history with tn,
chsckered history Of century ago, ar,
being slowly swept away. This worl
OF demolition has been going on so Of
fectually within the past few years tha
hardly any Of the old buildings anc
landmarks, that were the scenes o.
those associations that materially aid IL
the construction Of that history so deal
to the American heart. The latest in.
road made by modern ideas is upon tht
property occupied by Col. J. H. Moore
clothier at 22S Market street. This old
building possesses . history that ii
deeply interesting. The labor Of tear.
ing 1t down is about being commenced.
1t was formerly the old hotel property
and known in revolutionary times q
"Happy Return" 1t was occupied by
Mr.. Patrick o. Finn. 1t was the prin.
cipal hotel in the city At the time and
It was the stopping place for traveller,
en- route for Baltimore and Washington
General Washington stopped here upon
several occasions, it heing ona of his
places for rest and entertainment while
on his trips from his home in Virginia
to Philadelphia where the Continental
Congress was in session.
At later date it was occupied by
General Lafayette while upon his visit
to this city.
That portion Of the store room to be
demolished (the back portion) was
formerly the dining room Of the hotel.
In this dining room General Washing.
ton received reputation Of the citizens
Of Wilmington and addressed them.
The second story front was occupied by
both Washington and Lafayette as a
sleeping apartment it being at the
time the best room in the house. This
room retains its appearance in all its
primitiveness. .....
The heavy wainscotting is still there
and the broad open fire place indicative
Of the large hearted hospitality of those
early days, is in the same condition as
the time when its large space, filled
with great burning logs, 60 generously
added to the comfort Of those men
whose names have been handed down
to US as the architects of our national
existence.
The latest occupant of the hotel prop.
erty was Colonel Jesse Sharpe. Forty
years ago the hotel property was sold
to Edward Moore and William Morrow,
both deceased, the former being the
father Of the present owner and occu.
pant. The two gentlemen divided the
Mr.. Moore taking the hotel
and Mr.. Morrow occupying the corner
portion as a grocery store. That part
of the property to the rear OF the store,
some twenty years afterwards, was
by the DELAWARE REPUBLI-
CAN, then semi weekly, edited by
Evans & Vernon. This part was torn
down and new buildings were erected.
The corner is now occupied as a cloth
ing store.
The lower portion of the hotel pro-
perty was retained by Mr.. Moore, as we
have before stated, who began the sale
of clothing. Here he continued in this
line of business until he retired and
the present occupant, Col. John Moore
took possession.
The building is to be demolished to
make room for the erection of a new
three story press brick front with Ohio
1t will be put up in the
best style and will be q feet 6 inches
front on Market street and 100 it. deep.
When completed it will be devoted
entirely to the business of merchant
tailoring and the sale of ready made
by its present occupant. Mr..
Z. l.. Rics, Jr.. is the architect who will
ue the supervisor in its construction.
Mr.. Edwin W. Jackson is the contrac-
or. The building will be pushed rap
dly to completion so as to be ready for
he Fall trade. The buildings front
will be different from others in the city.
It will have no bulk window, and ten
'eet front from the building line will
oe used as vestibule which is to be
lsed for the display of clothing.
The woodwork Of the vestibule will
% of oak and walnut. The doors will
.lso be of the same material with
French glass windows. The windows
If the second and third stories will
llso he of French slate glass. While
he new building is being built, Colonel
doore will continue the merchant tai
oring and the sale of ready made
clothing at 22l Market street. Here he
would be pleased to see his friends and
.lso attend to the wants Of others, who
lesirous of being supplied with reason
BILE clothing, may see fit to call.
special Mention.
L e