The morning times., 1895-09-15
OLD INNS OF WASHINGTON
Built in Days When the Capital
Was But an InfantsCity.
ONLY A FEW OF. THEM LEFT
Where Now Are Dwellings or Stores
OF Towering Blocks, Then Stood
Coaching Headquarters, and in
Their Cha mbers Slept Men of Fame.

onehundred years ago Washington boastet
population of but 1000 Inhabitants, ant
the social gatherings were much in the nat
ure of clubhouse meetings, or perhaps the re
ligious sects gathered its members for thu
enjoyment of social intercourse. Long be
fore the decision locating the seatofgovern-
| ment here had been reached the existing ho
tells had extensive stables attached. where
the stage coaches and horses, as well as the
| private conveyances, were cared for and re
ceivcd as much attention as the guests them
selves.
The first hotel was Blodget's, the cree
ton of which was commenced July 4, 1898.
Ii was never completed, however, nor oc
cupied as a hotel. 1t commanded an unob
structed view of the entire city, and was
first called the Union Pacific, yet was
better known as the Great Hotel, and stood
ON the corner of Eighth and Z streets. II:
owner lost it in a lottery.
In 1910 the Government purchased the un
| finished building for the General Postoffict
and built an addition for the city postoffice
with an entrance on Seventh street. OveI
/ lllS Wds 'tit dltut OIliCc, Tie
nucleus from which sprang the present mag
nificent structure and its wealth and posi-
bilities.
| After the burning of the Capitol by the
British in 1914 the Thirteenth Congress
met and held its third session there, con.
| vcning on September 10, 1914. This build
| ing was burnt in 1886.
The Tunniclirf Hotel, built by William
| Tunnicliff, in 1898, was the second in
| Washington, and was called the Eastern
| Branch Hotel. 1t was located at the corner
| of Ninth and Pennsylvania avenue east.
| In advertising the opening of 1t the proprie-
| tor stated that those who visited the Ma
| tional Capital would find the hotel but a
| few yards from The Capitol building, and
| that itscomma nded a view OF the whole
| city, Alexandria and Georgetown.
In the vicinity was the first race course
| In the District. The first horses were entered
| by William Tunnicliff on October 81, 1897
A training ground was, located near, at
which the horses We're trained and cared
for while in preparations for races.
OLD CAPIToLsTTE.
Coolidge's, situated at the southeast
corner of First and Maryland avenue east,
was the site of the old Capitol After
Coolidge, Robert Long carried it on until
1906. 1t changed hands and was known as
the Tomlnson Hotel, and remained so until
1914, when 1t was burnt by the British,
after which the proprietor Opened public
baths on Q street, between Four-and-
a-half and Sixth streets. The property was
owned by Daniel Carroh, who advertised
to sell the site entire or'to subdivide into
lots. Il
The old United States Hotel stood on the
northeast corner of First and A streets
on the site of Duff Green's row and was
opened about 1901 or 1909. This property
was also owned by Daniel Carroll, who
rented 1t i'll 1910, 10 n. L. Queen and 1t
was known as Queens Hotel until the year
1925, when Carroll advertised to sell.
In the District nIsrshars office is a
receipt from the proprietor of this hotel
for room and board for jury at So
day.
The hotel was afterward rented by a
man named Steele, who moved from 1t TO
another, situated on the southeast corner
of New Jersey avenue and A street, also
built by Daniel Carroll and which he
called the City Hotel. This is really the
first hotel name recorded in the city, and
was considered elegant and spacious. 1t
contained about 100 rooms and part
ofthe building was stillstanding a few years
ago.
The Washington hotel stood on the north
side of Pennsylva MIA avenue, between
Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets, and was
owned by John Tayloe, who built it prior
to the year of 1898. He afterwards changed
the name to the Washington City Mansion
II lot tori . Ct ,-fnI hp EITnnpan
Hotel.
In the days of stage coaches il was the
resting place between Georgetown and
Baltimore.
PRETTY PEGGY o'NEALE.
Franklin Hotel, northeast corner OF
Twenty-first and Pennsylvania avenue.
was opened by william O'Neale in $500,
and in 1915 he advertised that he had
fitted 1t up completely, with every CON
venience for pleasure and comfort; that
a post coach and four norses would be
ready at all times to convey Members of
Congress TO and from the Capitol. One
daughter of the proprietor, who was noted
for her beauty and vivacity, married Johs
B. Timbcrlake, purser in the U. 8. Navy.
He survived his marriage but few years,
after which his widow married General
John B. Eaton, Secretary of War during
the Jackson administration, and was the
heroine of the sensation of that day. 1t
was claimed that General Jackson, during
his incumbency as Senator from Tennessee,
boarded at this house. The Franklin was
subsequently purchased by John Gadsby,
of Brighton, England. and was kept by
him until 1927 or '2s. This building was
converted into dwelling houses years ago,
and still stands one of the historic land
marks of Washington
The Metropolitan Hotel was opened In
1903, and was known as Davis Hotel,
and was the principal place for city meet
ings and gatherings for the sale OF real
estate. In 1916 1t passed Into the hands
OF John McKeown and was called Nc
Keown's II otel. Subsequently, in 1890,
Jesse Brown became the proprietor and
called 1t the Indian Queen, which was a.
popular hotel name at thatiperiod, Boston,
Philadelphia and Baltimore having hotels
of the name as early as 1876. In 1851
It became known as tae Metropolitan. IL
has always been the headquarters of the |
Southern Congressional contingent
The National was completed under the |
personal supervision OF John Gadsby, and |
was formally opened on February %, 1896, |
with a grand parade and ball. At the pa |
rade all the local organizations and bands |
Of music participated, and were. enter
taIned by the profrietors. The ball, to |
which the President, the members of the |
Cabinet and of both houses Of Congress- |
were invited, was the social event of the |
year.