The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-09
ANCIENT BROAD STREET.
CHANGES MADE IN THE THOR
OUGHFARE ON THE HILL.

Not what remember, but what has been
told. and by good authority, will be herein
recorded. These things have been brought
10 mind by several incidents. Passing the
corner OF Broad and Sixth streets, q change
going on In a modern building suggested
thoughts OF the past. Here once stood
small house, brick below and wooden above.
When was a school-boy IL was there, but
had lost its first uses. Ii had been law
Office in which the famous William Wir'
once entertained clients. Before that i had
been the private Office Of old Major william
Duval, revolutionary pension agent anu
land claimant for patriot soiuieIs
under Washington. He built and
lived In long frame house with
pretentious centre and wings which once
occupied the present site Of the two large
brick houses fronting on the north SIDE OF
Grace street. corner OF Sixth. The grounds
extended back TO Broad. The small once
stood where Wagner's drug store is no"
undergoing repairs. As boy recall lhls
small house made famous by its hrst uses
IL was then n candy shop. The WORD con.
fectIopery was not In common use AT tbal
time. because there was but one such estaD,
lishment in the town. Claude hu sc, sa'u
10 be a Swiss was pens i've, docile-lo0kins
old man who delighted 10 sell his "molasses
sticks and horse cakes" 10 boys just out OF
school. These were the only cheap Injuries
then known 10 Young people. The old man
had a wife who was as docile as himself
and more silent. Both were good Cathollcs'
and once a month had opportunity OF wor-
shipping In small WOODEN Shape'
which stood in the middle Of the
LOT on which II. Josephs orphan Asy-
llm has since been built. There were very
law members OF this branch OF the
Christian Church in Richmond. Ola ~
Iemosy and his family, who lived on the
north side of Broad street between Fourth
and Fifth streets, the Picots, Madame
Garraud, the Purcells, Barganlns'
now protestants, and others com
prised nearly all the COMMITMENTS
MIR. Galleg0, the founder OF the great nouI,
ing mills of that name, bequeathed the lana
on which the modest little chapel was butt.
II had cost him $1,000. After his death the
benehcaries of his will had great difficulty
in establishing a good title 20 the properly
because he had left IL 10 the "Cathohc
b Church" The state OF Virginia al that
time did not recognize that church, hence
the trouble. In order TO settle 'he
matter the property was aier"aru uS
decided 10 n diguitary Of the church. ms
was the first Catholic church building. so
far as know, ever erected in Richmond
The people of that period were far more
bigoted and illiberal than they are now
Well, do remember the misgivings WIN
which they regarded the mysterious loOklng
little white house with the cross over IT.
doors. set back IN the depths of a shadow!
grove Of trees and shut in by high fence.
Once a month priest made his appearance
on the premises. A curious crowd OF bows
and others might then be seen peerlng
through the cracks Of the enclosure to hnd
out. II possible, what was going on within
those MYSTERIOUS precincts. Its needless to
saw that great changes have taken place
since that time. not only with regard to our
Catholic brethren, but even among Protest
ants themselves. At the time just re-
ferred 10 there was not a church organ to be
found in the city OF Richmond, except in the
Episcopal church. Any OF the other Pro
testapt communities would have considered
IL nothing short of sacriege TO have per
mitted the use of one in their forms OF pub
lie worship. Among some OF the more mar
row minded Of the latter, Tor man TO play
on the fiddle" as the phrase went, not only
made the impiOus performers name by
word and a soothing among them, bui
doomed him TO eternal perditon.
PRIMITIVE CONFECTIONERY.
Speaking of confectionery, so primitive
was the art Of manipulating and com
Rounding the saccharine luXuries of that day
that upon the occasion of great wedding
articles of the simplest form were consld-
cred maryels of taste. a famous belle,
MIR. 4 VI. The families OF
both were wealthy and prominent people in
social life and lived in the highest style OF
the day. Crystalized sugar in the form OF
small pyramids-colored, red, and blue,
mixed with square pieces of candy in parti-
colored paper, each one enclosing verse
OF amatory French, and a few others con-
tanning a Illuminating mixture which eX-
ploded upon being pulled apart-made up
their supply Of confectioneries.
IL is little strange that the people
of that date seemed TO have forgotten
how to make some Of the prepare
tons so common among their English an
cestors. The latter had been particularly
fond Of what they called "cOmits." do
nestle confection made from variety OF
substances and great fayorite at all their
feasts. An example Of this is seen in the
modern sugar-almond and in the small
fruits encrusted with sugar. With what
establishment would our ancestors OF
seyenty-tve years ago regard the results OF
modern skill in the arts Of the confectionery
How inexplicable TO their eyes would APP
pear the productions Of Huyler or the
achievements OF an ArnOut.
AARON BURR.
But TO return: The next most important
depot of sweets was shop kept by one
Taylor at the corner of Broad and Ninth
streets. This spot had been made historic.
IL was in that house that Aaron Burr was
for time kept prisoner before he was con-
fined in the private apartments of the SUI
perintendent of the Penitentiary. The
original building has long since given place
10 the well-known drugstore now occupying
that corner Taylor like old Claude Muse
aud his quiet little wife, sold little else than
lady and horse-cakes.
QUEER GENIUS.
Further down Broad street one is at
tracted BY the new City Hall, whose near
est neighbor is Ford's Hotel, which had
quite an imposing appearance until over
Swallowed by the towering heights Of the
former. 1t was originally built upon an
elevation whose height above the street is
10 be measured by the level Of the first tier
OF rooms over the present basement story.
When first remembered, il had the appear
ance of barracks. The lofty unstuccoed
walls were painted yellow, its monotonous
front was only relieved by number OF
narrow windows above and huge battered
doors below. IL is said 10 have been erected
In the early part OF this century by Mr..
Wright SOuthgate; some say William South
gate, who lived and kept store there.
From all accounts S0uthgate must have
been a queer genius. His premises were
enclosed by high brick wall with broken
bottle-glass fixed in layer OF hardened NOR
tar on top TO keep out intruders. This was
a very common contriyance at that day,
remains OF which may now be seen about
some of the old mansions-for instance, at
the corner OF Fifth and Cary streets, where
the Marx house still stands. Mr.. South.
gate being a merchant, his heavy doors and
gates were strongly secured by bars and
s<Rains of iron in addition to the usual bolts.
lie kept great variety OF articles for sale
TO suit the wants and tastes Of all corners.
lie was a shrewd Scot, who knew how 10
make the most OF his advantages: was
a great card-player, as was the case with
most men and women OF the day.
The fayorite game was Loo. Indeed, the
passion for gaming had become so uniyer-
sal and absorbing that the Legislature
was called upon TO pass the most strin-
gent laws against all games OF chance
or skill. Everybody at that time took
chances in the numerous lotteries. whose
ossices waro IN he seen af every tnrn. and