The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-26
0LDEN TIME RICHMOND.
PAST REmJsIscBscrs REcAlIED.
Interesting Retrospect of the Ctr ss IL Was
Sixty Years Ago-Thc Franklin street or
That Day-Ruthertoord's Addition.


Reference 10 CeIlAli ptDlofANp A''.Nb '~NAs
made not long ago in the local column Of a
daily newspaper brings TO mind reminis-
cences. These DO but disolving views Of long
forgotten places. perhaps not worth reviving,
except for the sake of contrast of the old with
the new or because OF certain personality
we here and there attach % localities for
sufficient reasons. If. for instance, We are TO
minded that the great Ere Of London began
at Pie corner" aud ended az Pudding lane, "
or vice versa. one could scarcely pass either
Of these places with indifference. The great
est delineater Of human life in modern times
has dotted over the great metropolis WIN
Ahrines at which the readers Of ms lninitaDie
pages may express their peculiar emotions as
may best suit their tastes. and mankind wiI
never cease 10 thank Dickens therefor. Inns
but family illustrates what IS hero intended
BY rowing the aforesaid "reminiscences.
TRAsKLrx STREET IL TBR oLDEN TIarE.
The gailants of Richmond sixty years ago
we're not then 20 be seen stIoiilng on trankhn
street Indeed. st that time there was no
Franklin street The extensive West ward
beyond Second street was mere carriage way
over the undulatiOns OF grassy neids'
traversed by faint outlines Of future streets,
with here and there q newly erected family
mansion Of more OF less pretension. Inc pa
eastern corner where are still q De seen low
sDeciineus of the style OF architecture COM
mon 70 the rich and arlstocratc people OF
that period. If for any purpose one mad pre-
fcrrod vending his way up what - now the
fashionable promenade. he would nave WIZ
messed quite different scene rom that Whlcn
now 80 pleases the eye IN that direction.
There were neither sidewalks nor curb
ing. IL was a region In which every element
displayed d democratic determination 70 seek
lie own level whether 10 was water OF mud or
dust. Cows grazed at large or dozed peace
fully on the neighDOrlng slopes chewing the
cud Of coutentmeut. Here and there priml-
tive plank fencing iuterfered with the com
mon freedom of things. The sun gave It's
hgbt bv day, but when night came, unless the
moon was in fashion. nothing guided the
footsteps Of the pedestrian and Kept hum from
stepping on the backs OF drOWsy cattle or
in sloughs OF mlre but the light OF the family
lamp. OF course gas was unknown audit was
10y % the night walker when the Hght from
neghboring window she'd It's brightness
athWart the universal gloom 10 cheer MIN on
his way The dog was u prominent pers mage
then: his functions were not 10 be despised
Instances were frequent in which sad havoc
was made upon the clothing and persons OF
wsvfarers by night One gentleman had his
elegant blue cloth cloak torn to slreds while
u package of oranges Ia great rarity at that
time were lost in the snow instead OF being
enjoyed by the family. Another had his new
umbrella beaten 10 fragments defending him
sef and being greatly inoensed thereby re,
turned gun in hand 70 the scene OF action and
slow the offending brutes.
RUrHERFOOHD's ADDITION.
That part Of the city lying chiefly beyond
what is now Second street. inclosed between
Cary and Broad streets and stretching indefi-
nitey westward. composed tho territory here
referred TO- Many of the largest and oldest
residences IN the town are still 20 be found
within this area. Originally II was called
"RutherfoOTd's Addition" and for thefolOw-
ing reason: Almost everybody IN Richmond
has beard of Parson Balm and Parson Buch-
anan. The latter had two brothers. both Of
whom were Scotch merchants and had be-
come men of means. They owned large areas
Of real estate IN different portions Of the
country bat particularly and near the town
of Richmond. Mr. Thomas rutherford was
another thrifty and enterprislng merchant.
who had come to Virginia for the first time
from Dublin. although he was a ScOtchman.
having been born at Glasgow about
the year 1866 He had come TO Rich !
mond as supercargO. but returned 20 Dublin
after settling up the business entrusted TO his
care. While in Virginia he had formed such
an opinion Of the people and country and the
prospect for future business that he ult-
matey returned 10 take up ms abode IN Rich t
mond. There were also other Inducements |
70 take this step, which need not be narrated /
here. About the year 1883 Mr. Rutherford /
arrived az Richmond. In due time he became
established as q successful merchant had |
married, and for many wears lived IN a small /
house near the old courthouse on Main street /
east Of ShockOe creek. This was the original |
site OF Colonel Byrd's city. and for a oOnsd- /
cradle length Of time was occupied by the |
best people Of tho town. Mr.. RutheffOOrds /
family ~ the meantime had increased He |
had already lost one or more Of his children. |
and was obliged, on account of the insalu- /
briefly of the situation. to retreat 70 the upper |
country during the warm weather
THE GREEN SPRINGS.
A favOrite place of resort at that time was
the Green Springs IN Louisa county. During /
the summer of 1898 he with his family went
b. that place. There he met many acQuaint- /
ances Mr. Hsryie OF Richmond Mr. Brice of
GOochland and two Of the Buchanan brothers |
of Richmond. John and Alexander Before |
going further II may be proper to say here
that the Rev. John Buchanan. the parson. was
always poor until after the death of one IF his /
brothers. from whom he Inherited cOnsid-
erabs landed estate. Mr. rutherford had
determined some time before this visit 10 pur-
chase site somewhere IN the western part #
Richmond for more wholesome place
OF residence. While at the Green Springs
Mr.. rutherford made an effort 20 purchase
the lane belonging 10 John Buchanan, the
parson. lately acquired by the recent death of
towards the upper end Of Broad street. then
known as Deep Run turnpike and included
the land beyond the shops of the Richmond
fredericksburg and Potomac Company, and
that on which Beliyille. Columbia and sew
eral other prominent residences were
afterwards built The good parson de-
clined 30 part with the land for private rea-
sons; whereupon his brother Alexander OBJ
Bervine the disappointment of Mr.. Ruther-
foord, at once offered him one hundred acres
OF his own land nearer 10 the town than his
brother Jobu's aud upon such liberal terms
that Mr.. rutherford at once closed the bar
gain. To this hundred acres Mr.. Alexander
Buchanan afterwards added certain other
lots adjoining II without additional price,
BE0ISNISG OF TIE wFsT END.
Thus il was that Mr. Thomas Rutherford.
fhe founder OF the large and influential
family of that name 30 weil-knOwn in this !
city and Ia the State. became possessed of the |
valuable property now comprising 50 large a /
portion Of the fashionable and attractive |
part OF Richmond. No sooner had Mr.. Ruther- |
toord eonsummated his purchase than be pro- /
ceeded 10 erect his new residence thereon /
AS stated above. there were then no houses OF /
consequence IN that part of the town; the /
streets were mere carriagewGys tanked on |
all sides by a wilderness of grass, thistles |
and weeds. One may. therefore VOL under. |
stand why Mr.. rutherford thought OF placing
bis home on the highest elevation he cOuld |
H|N I'll