The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-22
hep regret that make ones heart heavy.

hep regret, that make ones heart heavy.
ALL THE EMPLOYEES GONE.
Altogether there were eighty-three en-
inoyes connected with the hotel. OF these
ltxty were colored. They were dismissed
last Monday, which of course threw
number OF people out Of employment
When / called at the Exchange day or
two since one clerk remained. Mr.. A. H..
lSelden. He was the last TO be on duty.
helping Colonel Archer to settle up
humber Of minor affairs. The name
f'R- l.. Parrish, Covington, Va is the
Hast ON the register lie stopped at the
hotel last Monday. the day Of the clos
ing.
colonel Archer and Colonel 10 Lane
Stern, the trustee were buSily engaged
looking over papers and settling up the
estate as rapidly as possible, when j call
ed. Now and then some one came IN on
business, and In almost every instance
looked around with kind OF disappointed
cir. expressive OF regret.
a FAMOUS HOTEL.
For years the Exchange and Ballard
Hotels were regarded as one of the three
most famous stopping places In this coun-
try--the Astor House in New York, and
the st. Charles Hotel. In New Orleans,
being the others. The Exchange was COM
pleted by stock company in 1871, and
was opened on September 10Th OF that
year. Mr.. Boyden, OF New York, was
the lessee and proprietor. Guests from
all over the country, and especially from
the South. even as far down as Alabama,
came In stages and private conveyances,
and registered at the Exchange. 1t was
headquarters for prominent people gem
orally. Mr.. BOyden was also interested
in the Astor House. in New York, and
HA ar1a 10. On Orleans
Ho severed his connection with the Ex-
change and moved North one or two
others leased the well-knOwn hotel be-
tween that time and the time when the
late John r. Ballard. of Richmond, be-
came the lessee and proprietor. lie
managed the house for while. and the
patronage grew beyond the accommoda-
tons. Mr.. Ballard purchased the vacant
lot across the street and erected the
Ballard House, which was completed IN
1854. The Ballard House was connected
with the Exchange by an iron suspension
bridge which cost S25 900. This bridge
was afterwards sold as junk for 81 500.
For a while. the two hotels We're run
together under the same management
subsequently Mr. Ballard failed, the
bridge was removed. and the houses were
conducted separately for while. Both
were under the management OF some
northern people
A CONFEDERATE HOSPITAL.
During the war Cor a while the hotels
were closed. and the Exchange was used
for a Confederate hospital for short
fine. Northern people afterwards ran
the hotel for time, but failed. ana on
August lG. 1850. Colonel J. l.. Darlington
and Mr. A. J. Ford. the present proprie-
Tor Of Fords Hotel. leased the two houses
~ L firra Of I I.
rington & Co, managed them until Octo-
Der sth, 1861. when the firm was dissolved,
Mr. Ford stating that he would 20 70
New York TO enter the hotel business
in that city. lie did not do so. however,
but soon opened tie old Powhatan House,
now Fords Hotel. Colonel Darlington
was then the sole proprietor Of the TX
change and Ballard. The buildings werc
the property Of tho late w. A. Stuart ard
the late T.. o. Noting Colonel Caring
ton continued as proprietor until his
death in June. 1880. The late Scott Car
ringfon then became manager OF j. J..
Carrington's business. and. for short
time ran the hotels. In Juna 1871, he
purchased from Major !. II. D0oiey, exc
cutor for ). l. Carrinston's estate, the
furniture and fixtures. and the following
month Colonel A. W. Archer purchased
a half interest IN this property from Air.
Darlington. These gentlemen ran the
hotel together until Mr.. Carrington's
death IN June. 1895. and Mr. Carrington's
brother was associated with The manage
mont until June. 1884, when Colonel
Archer became sole proprietor.
The Exchange Is stu the property Of
the estates OF the late " A. Stuart and
j.. o. Noting. The Ballard House Is
owned by the Universal iife Insurance
Company. OF New York. which purchased
Il as an investment
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS.
Perhaps no hotel In this country has
entertained a larger number OF distin-
sufshed guests than have the Exchange
end Ballard. These were the places
where prominent people naturally went
- hotels have always been we'll kept.