The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-08-12
MANCHESTER AND VICINITY.

Middle District BqptiSt ASSOcintiOn.-
This body convened in It's ninety-eighth an
nua session on Wednesday at Salem church,
Chesterfield county, and was organized by
the election OF u. NJ. GOode, Esq as mode.
ralor, and DR.. j. Lewis Dorset as clerk.
The annual sermon was preached by Rev.
l.. w. Moore. This Association embraces
25 chui ches in the counties Of Chesterfield,
POwhaian, Amelia, and DnWiddie, aud the
city Of Manchester, which have member
ship of 2,44G.
Yesterday there was an immense crowd
i'm attendance. Interesting discussions on
ministerial relief fund, systematic beneti-
cencc, state OF the churches and their rell-
lions TO the General Association, and State
missions, filled up the morning and after
noon sessions. DR.. j. l.. NJ. Curry made
the great speech OF the occasion, when the
report on the relations OF the churches 10
the General Association was up for con.
sideration. Many OF his admirers thought
that it was the ablCSt address they had ever
heard from him.
The meeting continues to-day. Large
numbers from Manchester and Richmond
have attended every day.
The DdUiS B'Ock.-The old tavern, built
eighty years ago, and which in former
times sheltered nearly every traveller who
stopped over night in Manchester, was To-
Gated on Hull between Eleventh and
Twelfth streets. Up to the war it had
always been devoted 10 its legitimate use.
Afterwards the social system OF the State
was changed, there was no travel OF the sort
on which it had Subsisted, many OF its pa
irons bad been killed in the great upheayal,
others had died. H. beclme a tenement
house. and was fast going to wreck when =
citizen named Davis purchased L, took of
one story, put in new front, and with the
aid OF little money and some pant and
putty made as nice a row for business and
other purposes as one need wish TO see.
Before the war, that halcyOn period to
which 50 many references are made,
many without any relevancy, the Ches-
terfield troop used 10 dine there on
every An OF July and 22d Of Feb
ruary. The scene OF their postprandlal
cheer was the clpaciOus rear yard OF the
cavern" under the Shade Of brave old
oaks, many OF them no doubt eXtant when
POWhala rOamed thcrelbOut monarch OF
all ne surveyed" Tradition hath it that it
generally happened on such festive Occl-
SiOns, after due praise TO the American
eagle and the accustomed eulOSy on the res
olutions OF $3.50, that something stronger
than water, more potential than gumDo,
'possum, or Brunswick stew, would render
the doubty cavaliers and their guests inca
pable OF lOcomOtiOn, and that their dreams
OF greatness on "freedOm's natal day. for
the time being at least, were generally from
the kindly bosom OF mother earth. Said an
AGED Manchesteriln yesterday to the DtS-
patch representative, Those were glorious
times, sir, glorious. We shall never see
their like
On Hun at the corner Of Fifth street was
another noted tavern, built nearly three
Gulrtcrs Ol a century since. Grading Hun
Street destroyed it, clpacous front porch,
from which many an ambitious Chester
GeldIan had hlringued his fellow citizens
in old times, and a few years since 1t was
Abandoned either aS residence or tavern.
II is in a state Of dIslntegratiOn now. The
ubiquitouS smlll boy has evidently been
around, for It's accessible wlndoT-gIass
look as II they had been riddled with bull
lets. There Is no hotel in Manchester nov.
The ReSerUOir.-The work OF dressing