San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-11-28
AN ODD HOUSE.
The Curious History of an Ancient
Hostelry.

The Curious History of an Ancient
Hostelry.
From the Brooklyn Eagle
At the junction of Broadway aud
Fulton street, in the Twenty-sixth
Ward, there stands an old twO-story
dilapidated- looking building to which
the visitor to that section OF the city
would never think it worth while to
give second glance. Yet, If walls
could speak it would be interesting to
listen to the tale which these weatf err
beaten stones could unfold. The
house is one of the oldest, If not the
oldest, on Long Island, and has been
in possession OF the family of
the present owner for over 200 years
When the tract of land on which Is
built was purchased from the English
crown, it, as we'll as the country for
miles around, was one vast area of
woodland. The site selected was ia
the portion of the district then
known as Towards Wood, the prop
erty comprised under that title ex-
tending for some distance along the
route of the old Jamaica plank road.
The house was originally one-story
stone structure, with double pitch
roof extending to the piazza. Curious
looking windows, with oddly shaped
panes of glass, admitted light and
air into the building. In the center
was a long hall with an immense fires
place. The surrounding forests sup
piled the necessary fuel, and huge log
were cut aud rolled by the lusty set
tiers right into the hall, and on to the
fire that was kept burning night and
day for many years. The flaming
wood cast a glow on the strong, firm
beams that, innocent of plaster or
paint, served as the ceiling for the
ground floor and the support of the
attic above What wonderous stories
of adventure aud hardship must have
been told beneath these protecting
beams, for as time wore on and the
sighborhood became somewhat of o
settlements this old landmark as
sumed the character of An Inn. 1t
was q resort for colonists from ali
parts of the island. During the revo-
luton it was known as the Halfway
House. At that time William How
ard was mine host.
When the shot was fired at Con-
cord that was heard around the
world an echo of it reached this re-
mote hamlet, and preparations were
here, as elsewhere, made to resist the
tyranny of King George and be-
come free. William Howard was
uorg the plumber TO take up the.
good cause, and more than ever his
inn now became the stopping place OF
the sturdy colonists of the vicinity
The house was situated about 100
feet from the Jamaica plank road and
| to the back was u road through the
hills, known as the Jamaica Pass. This
was the objective point of Lord Howe
after his arrival on Long Island, as,
that position safely reached, 1t was
easy to advance on the then insignifi-
cant village of Brooklyn. Early Oh
the morning of August ~, l776. Howe,
with Gen. Clinton and Lord Percy.
reached the Half Way house and took
the innkeeper prisoner. They then
compelled him at the point of the
bayonet to show them the way to the
Jamaica pass. One time during the
struggle for independence five Brit
ish soldiers made visit to the inn,
and, finding it in the sole charge Of q
girl member of the family, demanded
| that she deliver to them the money
lu6Y was III thO Ao0o0s
She refused and was wounded by the
bayonets of the soldiers. After use-
less search they made foray on the
larder and left.
Subsequent to the revolution the
Howard house was alternately an inn
and the private residence of the fam
lily. 1t was not altered in any way
until about half century ago, when
an addition was made to it OF frame
story to meet the demand for more
room. Until few years since 1t was
occupied by descendants of the origi-
nal owner, but recently tenants have
lived in 1t who, by altering room
here and there, have completely
changed its appearance. The old
fashioned hall has been shortened
considerab oily, and an inmate, evident
ly more fond of modern than antique
styles of decorations, papered the
beams. The present occupants are
Italians, who probably know nothing
of the history of their abode, which
has witnessed so many changes in the
suburbs of the city Of which it lately
became part.