The Wilmingtonian., 1886-12-18
Lafayette Hotel and WILMINGTON
"reminiscences.

"reminiscences.
Talking of the sale OF tho Lafayette IIott
property to the Federal Government aud it.
demolition in order to erect tue new vii
nngton Post Office upon the site, bring,
many "reminiscences OF tarly days to the old.
| r cliizeus of the commun'tv.
This hotel was former, ly the old Black BeaI
| Inn. AS VAS the custom with these aucirn.
nostetries, this inn had It's ponder,us sw inp
'ng sign showing the picture Of large black
'ear. The sign hung from high post stand
"g at the corner Of the building its cross
''ieGe point ny dgonally across the dissection
f Ninth and Shipley streets.
All inns of those early days were glorfied
With gOrgennsly painted signs of that nature.
rhey we're the wonder and admiration Of the
youth of the day.
The custom of having these swinging pic
uIe signs came, as all know, with the early
settlers from England. Indeed it is a re-.
mai kable fact that most Of the iunkeeper>
It Wilmingt III of half century back were
Engli,hmen. Wilmington was well stocked
1t that date with such inns and landlords
There was the Stag Hotel at Front and
Market streets, with its picture of fine
ntlered buck. The Green Free upon the
PRESENT site of st. Johns church, Brandy
wine, had its swinging ad rnment. There
was the "Indian @ leen," which many rea-
lers will recollect as the predecessor of ou
inest hotel tue Clayton House. Upon TIE
next block below, at Fourth and Market,
where Snaps large store is, was the "Indian
King" hotel. There was the General
Washington" situated on Market street,
where John Mealey's wine store is.
There was also the "Bhd in the Hand"
N Front and ng streets kept by Robinet
Fhe Foul Anchnr," corner Of Water and
K ng streets kept by the famous Tommy
sogers, the ''magician," so called because
le was the only S seght-pf-h band mau in the
state. Robert Macdonald too. the greatest
temperance man III Delawate Kept the .'Bull's
Head tavern. Ho was the trst proprietor
{ that inn-about 1880
Most Of these old ihnS were extremely cosy
tnd attractive places as ideas ran al the time.
Many WllmingtOnians Of to da, will remeni-
Ier in their boyhOod times the ten pin allie,
ud ball court at the Green Tree I'm.
The ball playing was hot the modern bas,
oall innovation but, as the uld folks say, !.
much more fascinating diversion. It was
.layed by hand. IN regular court or en-
closed structure resembling racquet court,
quilt pui posely fer ihs game. Fa,,inGs =tl.,
layers was high wall with side walls
ight angles, diminishing in height as tn,
entrance Of the cnurt is reached. The front
nd sides were usually ca. efnlly p'asterrd
and SIM OILY cen.ented. The flooring was
carefully tiled. Th,le were Usually fou,
players, two in aud two out. The game,
'xcited the greatest interest. Cities aud
wen States had their champion PLAYERS, who
travelled from place to place to wire st supre-
macy from rivals. In any ball court of OF.
inary consideration there was usually a
covered stand, in the rear, facing the players,
furnished with chairs and settees where the
iItizens, often accompanied by the ladies' OF
the family, repaired of evenings ON occasion
''f any unusually famous match game. At
those times the excitement was often intense
ever the result, and quite large sums or'mon-
ey We're hazarded upon the favorites.
1t may be added that during Colonial times
this WAS one OF the favol ite advertisements
pf the better classes. The English officers OF
neighboring garrisons frequently took par,
in the SPORT either using the lacquet bit,
similar to our tennis bat, or playing Lard
ball. The rules Of the game, covering both
nand ball and Racquet, we've almost Identical
the only very apparent difference being III
the use of the bat in one case aud the bare
haud in the other
Gu. inns readers no doubt have often won
d rcd At the strange names given to the old
ilns. No doubt some will remember that
most inuS OF all the "GJat ard ConpaSs
Is" which may be seen to-day finely limned
upon the ingmg signs in obscure OF ST qres
lered ErglIsh villages. Tie goat is painted
IOmt thing IN our more modern Book beer
style, gaiantly princng nver bunch Of
keys. Notes and Queries, Whcn il an auth.
orty upon derivatives, says that the nam,
originated in eally Pn itauical times, TIom
the bible text God eucnmpassath u.s."
Hhich Il more mhden and obllviuusty ig-
norant or irreverent county ppSterly degra.
ded into Goat and Compasses" as the
legend now star ds.
The Bradleys of Centrevile, Chr stiana
Hundred, to which Johu Bradley the lichesi
drover of the State belonged, bought the
Lafayette Hotel propeIt ty ia 1920 In 1882
the Black Bear inn which occupied the site