Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-03
LOW TAVERN.
THE r.
BY J.
IONS OF A FAMOUS COUNTRY
,fFLRY OF OLDEN TIMES.
spearanoe end surroundings-How 1t
Got Ito Name rhe Battlefield
Near By. &c. &c.


The recent sale Of portion Of tho Old
yellow. Tavern tract Of land brings 10 mem
ory hosiery that was famous In TIA day,
but which has long since become dust. or
ashes, rather.
Its hey-dsv was the time OF the stsge
coaches; when railroads appeared It's glory
faded. and after descending 10 various ignoble
uses il at last fcii victim to the Games and
ras>rd away Ike ihcace 10 which u belonged.
An humble cabin ana some charred aspen
tumps are all that sire now left 70 marx us
site.
In the halvc0u DAYS Of the Eagle and the
Bel Tavern, the Washington stages, starring
on, from tac cts with tie first gray streak
OF dawn. would drive no the Brook road 10
this tavern. and there the passengers "ould
be brcikfastcd and tho horses rested Tor inc
next stretch a. the journey.
II was a iypical tavern 81 the day. The
first story or basement was OF DICK ana
above that Ntrc tWO framed stories with a
porch running he whole length. In one
end Of the basement was a bar In the rear
was wing. Near % hsnd were horsc-racks
and sia les aUd stalls.
Here tie cbeerv.flced proprietor wei
guest and did ;hc hon0rs Of tho house Withthe
ststelv courtesy required. Being one OF the
most important road, in the state, The fame
OF the house went far abroad over this lind,
hut when II was built and bv whom ~ not
clesr. It hhc'y hat IT'S name came from
ia being painted yellow; cortalu " Is thst
that g!ariOg color DISTINGUISHED II in
early days; hut ne arts OF the occa-
sion wa- only litic In advance OF his lei
lows; u was an odd color then, but now has
cone 10 be rather fashionable, only We don't
nowadays call yellow.
TIE r,yEHV SIXTY YEARS AGO.
NJ John ". Bcye idge, who. added 20 n
good old age, has The advantage OF sound
memory and SD extensive acquaintance with
ali thst pertains 20 the Bro X road. having
done bu.il.. Isl, ON the avenue for hail CEN
fu~v. st,s the distance Of the tavern from
Richmond D.. iiNc and three four,hs miles,
md he has known The place So Yellow Iav-
rrp " FOR over siNfN ye1rS. " The first O'cu'
psrt knew" said be, twas James K. Hsw-
I'm. who removed 10 Lexington, Ky. and
WHO, until recenlly, was pracucing M dicine
out there. md may he doing so 10 this time
for auaht know. Later on it was kept by
Neckius Ford. Benjamin PrenlsS, and
Others. do not rccoilect hearing by whom
II wa bullt. or, II J ever DID, have forgot
ten; tut it was burned down. during the
war I think. heihg ST the time IN very
dilapdited condition and unoccupied.
"The nearest road now is The road lead
ing 10 Dr. John y. Powolrs OLD place,
formerly owned by old Edward ". Burton
the forks Of The road are about quarter Of 4
mile above. The east FORK - called hy tho
name Of Hanover Courthouse road; the west
fork ia called the ODD Mountain road. Solo
mons store o in the fork; John i. Ncu-
TohI's is on the west side OF TIE road very
near hv. There Is nothing bur q small caLlu
on the old Tavern lot; TIE residence Of The
late u. =. Dcaullne Is near by. 81 il that OF
Or Moore. The house was frame house
oitwo stores, about fifty fcet long. and run.
ming some tuirty OF more feet, with brick
basement, and 1t had shedrooms in The
rear"
TIE DAYS or GAECIEL's INSTRUCTION.
Nv first rccollcctions ~ the yellow
Ta,crn," said Mr.. William II. Pleasant-.
date back To about 1870, when as a TAD
p,esed II on the road from Hanover county,
where wss raised. 10 this CITY. But in or
der 10 inform myself have consulted one
o. two persons WHO had longer and more
jntimatc acouautlucc wi'h % tbln had.
Wheu knew ~. w.'e il was sill kept ~ a
place OF accommodation Tor "Wln ana
beast, It's 81 Ory mad departed. SITUATED on
one Of the Wlrcird roq l-tYHt lcl 10 the inn
mense back country thft fcG iho business ~
this civ before railroad, were bum. ~ t)rmt q
most convenient st1pgW--pa'" Tor trsVci-
lers and leaLstors O. siop overnight and
rcach the c.tv early the ncEt uay. FMS wa
anterior Otae unIe when thr Louis railroad
was built or before Of was even Thought o'.
is fame extended far back into thc country,
pnd II was cou-ld,red on s. The hest uo,tel
ries Ali tie land :, wa painted 1cllO~.