The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-04-12
REMINISCENT.
History of the Old Building that Gertz
Lately Occupied.


days since, leaves but three Of the old
class buildings remaining on this thor
oughfare, from the water front to above
Hotel street, a distance of six blocks
Though not an ancient landmark"
it nevertheless filled a niche in what
may be termed the social side of
Honolulu business life as to deserve
more than the brief paragraph so far
given it.
This building was constructed by
the late Christopher Levers in the
latter part Of 1859, and before compile.
ton was leased to Edwd. Burgess
(familiarly known as Ned Burgess)
fora billiard hall, and was the first billiard
parlor in the islands without a "bar
attraction, which temperance feature it
maintained for some time. The estab
llshment opened with considerable eclat
by ball Feb. Ist, 1860, and merited a
four Or five line paragraph in the next
morning Advertiser
Burgess Hall, as the advertiser
termed it, was provided with three
tables, situate in the L that ran along
an alley mauka side between it and
Levers & Dickson's store lot. Some
months latter this L had a counter
part erected and a ten-pin alley was
added to its attractions for evening re.
creation, and here gathered many Of
the merchants, professionals and clerks
of Honolulu and the captains and Of
hcers of vessels in port, Some Of our
older residents will recall the vigorous
exercise in the effort to excel Carroll in
his "ten strikes" or in the more
scientific game of cooked hat" In
the former game ]. l. Dowsettt and the
late J O. Domiuis used to be con.
sidered adopts, while in the latter game
the late DR. f. Hoffman, led in
supremacy. OF those who used to oc.
casionally exercise in either one or the
other department, many have passed
over the river and of the successive
proprietors all but one are gone.
Shortly after Mr. +. Horn establish
ing here in business, at the corner OF
King and Mauna Kea SITS Mr. Burgess
assigned a portion of the front building
for the sale Of fine pastries and island
fruit preserves pre- pared by Mr.. Horn.
This was followed by the addition of a
Light refreshment room, with coffee and
oyster stews a specially, as used to be
youched for by Kentuck. " Every
thing that Burgess undertook was done
up in first class style The fittings and
furnishings showed individuality and
artistic taste. Doubtless a number OF
our people can recall his sign (the work
| believe of his brother George which
read Billiard Room " to persons com
ing down the street, "E Burgess" as
they got in front, and" Bowling Alley u
from below. 1t was not only novelty
in sign work at the time, but was rich
in finish. Its like has never been re-
produced here.
At this period of Honolulu's history
they were no Library and Reading
Room, or Y. NJ c. A. attractions, or
provisions for the after-business hours
of young men, yet the clamor of the
certain would.be benefactors at others
expense for the throwing open Of cur
homes to the young men of the city
was then unheard OF.
After a few years existence, of the
character as shown above, the "bar''
feature was added to the house and it
became known as the Bank Exchange D
Capt. H. S. Rowland succeeded Bur
CESS in the latter part Of 1866, and he
in turn was succeeded by Jas. Louzada
whose interest reverted again to Bur
CESS in 1869 and at the latters death
the following year Messrs Siders and
Clunie became its proprletors, For a
number of years past the premises has
been occupied by Mr.. c. Gertz as a
shoe store, Shortly following his &C
cupancy the late Capt l.. Marchant fit,
ted up the makai portion of the front as
cigar stand, and in the odd moments
of waiting for customers his young
helper Henry CRUDE, used to sit and
amuse himself by engraving and small
carvings, eventually developing taste
and aptness for this line of work that
secured for him, at the hands Of the
reform government in 1887, an appren.
tIceship in one of the first engraving es.
adjustment in Boston, from which he
is now returning home, with honor it is
said, to his instructors, his country and
himself. T. G.. +.
Mr.. Smiths Dinner.