Daily Republican., 1879-04-19
THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP.
A Sketch Of its Histsry - Far %
Can be Traced with Certalnty.

THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP.
} A sketch s1 iss History - Far .
Can be Traced with Certafnty.
With the tearing down Of the sol,
curiosity shop" on Fourth street, bs
tween Market ard King, departs one o
the old relics Of the city though not s,
old as many other buildings in the cen
trail and southern section OF the city
which are iu better state Of preserva
tion. Even the 'oldest citizens" O
Wilmington seem to be ut loss as Il
whsn the building was first erected. In
quiring amongst many Of the old resi-
dents only revealed a general knowl
edge Of the building prior to the yeal
1889. Many persons however recollec,
that the building on the corner
whore sharp's dry goods store is now
located, it was called the old Indian
Queen hotel kept by a man named
Brinton, and tho building now being
torn down was then only one story high
and was used as the Indian Queen
stables.
| This was the relay house, for all the
stages which Travelled from Philadel
phia, down through the Peninsula
One informant stated that it was nc
unsual thing to see q four-in-h and
stage numbering down Market. with q
driver seated upon the box, blowing
his horn to announce his coming, and
to warn every thing else to get cut Of
the way. Under the stable was an
open arch way, into which the stages
entered and came out in the yard
beyond. After the occupancy of Mr..
Brinton ceased, q gentleman named
Smith succeeded him.
This brings its history up to about
1889, when it was rented by Captain
Reed, and later Jesse Sharpe became the
proprietor. The building was soon
after kept as dry goods store by
the late Hyland B. Pennington, after
which the Mechanic Banks occupied it
and then the First National Bank now
At Fifth and Market street carried on
its business there. After the First Ma
tional Bank had moved away it was
turned into dry goods store and occu-
pied by W. B. Sharp who still carries
on the business.
In the Naf building about 1889, the
old stables were torn down and two
new buildings put up with . common
entrance connected together by hall.
In tho front building were two rows Of
stores and Offices one above the other.
One Of the stores was kept as news
store BY Radcliffe Chadwick, he selling
out to Justin Pierce who had been ac-
tive in selling lots in the Eastern Sec
tion OF the city. Mr.. Pierce sold out to
Shields Il Toy, but the latter withdraw
ing J. b. Shields carried on the busi
ness and soon after sold out to the now
largest newspaper man in the city, Elias
S. K. Butler. One Of the stores was rent
ed by Abraham Schrader a noted Tenn
psrance man of that time who kept
gun store.
Joel v. Greenman commenced the
paper hanging business in one of the
stores, and John Harp had stove store.
OK. Barrell had a convsyancer's Office,
and since died in Washington also
Mr.. Thompson had his studio there.
The Masonic Fraternity rented it, but
thinking the walls not strong enough,
never occupied it.
The Odd Fellows, who met in 1912 at
302 Market street, appointed commit
tee of three, consisting of Edward Nc
Intire, ,Zeni' B. Glazier and George Gill,
who rented the third story of tho build
ing, and occupied it until the building
of their present hall at Third and King
streets.
1t was soon after fitted up for the
Sons of Temperance, several divisions
Of tho order holding their meetings
there. In the second story Of the
building, was the Gazette" Office, tho
paper being edited by Bossel & John
son; it was changed to Harker & John
son. Mr.. Chandler was soon after ad-
mitted to the firm, and Mr.. Harker
dying, the name OF the firm was
changed to johnson Il Chandler. The
latter partner in the course Of time
sold out his interest to Mr.. Johnson,
who is at the present time proprietor Of
'he paper.
The building was used for public
exhibitions, being the principal pub
lie hall in the city. 1t lost its stand
ng, however, by the erection Of Central
at the North West corner Of
Fourth and King. The Temperance
Societies not paying the interest, the
was foreclosed and bought by
William H. Natf, for $1,000.
In the building Mr.. Natf carried on
vhat is known as an old curiosity
hop. He kept vast amount of queer
uriosities, the chief among them being
he library of Rev. Mr.. Prettyman, the
ounder Of tho Wesleyan Female Col.
oge Anthony Wayne's sword and ,,
he whig banner given to Delaware in
s44, she having sent q greater num- !
'er Of delegates to the convention in i.
Baltimore, which met for the purpose
+ nominating Henry Clay, for the
'residency.
Mr.. Naff having died some years y
go, tho building was nsed as an auc .
ioner store by David H. Coyle h Co. {.
was sold last fall at Trustees sale for :.
he heirs ofWilliamH. Naf, and::purchas- !.
d by Jacob P. Herdman for 1880, :.
he amount Of claim he had Oh it. +
no building is now being torn down .
nd three handsome stores are to b. v
rected. 1t is to be three stories high, y
1s knights Of Pythias having already y =
,nted the third story. .,
mother Scene I'm the Talmaxe Trial II y
At the opening of the Brooklyn 4
resbytery, Thursday, the moderator h
nnounced that the Rev. Mr.. Hatha- =,
aad Az. D. n oL