Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-06

biioh dBu piOutdblts
Inc Oldest druggist in the city. however.
was Alexander Duval, 1F Main. next to
the old Eagle Hotel, now called Eagle
Square. at which place he was doing
business IN lS3, and was there as long as
can remember. Musco L. Day was also
one OF the first druggists, and was sue
ceeded. think, by DR.. Dove.
THOMAS A. RUSTS BIG LOCK.
Inc sign OF Thomas A. Rust. early back
I'm thu thirties, was huge paddock hang
ing over his door, on Main; then called
street. The lock, perhaps, partook OF
his name, and was quite rusty, but served
for many years to designate his business.
There were other prominent hardware
firms. such as w $. & J. Donnan, Smith
& Harwood, Richards g. Gardner. Van
Iiew & Harris, Thomas & Charles Ellis,
whD were all on Main street. and the
familiar sign OF John Il. Sublett, 2l1h
Broad street.
But l must not forget the ,candy-stores,
which weie the great attraction to every
small boy, with a sweet tooth. Down
town there were many-the business be-
ing chiefly done by Italians. The Pizzinis
Guan and Antonio) on Main, and Andrew
on Broad, being IN the lead. Then there
were the Bonavitas, Simon e. Joseph,
Benlgni Catognio. G. ROzanni, and seve-
raj others on Main; on Broad were the
Samannis. After tho death Of Francis
Samanni, his widow ran the business for
many years; her cakes and pies were
my delight, and / was always remember
ed by her on Christmas-day with
pocketful OF good things.
OF the many large dry-goods firms l
recall that OF Thomas r. Price as the
Oldest. His handsome and pleasant face
Is still impressed on my memory, and
for long years he was the most popular
merchant in Richmond. r. IL. jenkins
and Binford, Brooks, Gay & Co. came
next. The latter firm afterwards d.
vided into Binford &c Nimmo. 80 Main,
and Brooks & Hudson, 81 Main.
There were In 1916 many prominent He
brews also in business, as there are now,
who prospered and helped to build up the
city. Jacob Levy & Brother, q Main, and
NJ. A. s, i. Levy, II Main, were then the
most prominent, and their sons are still
holding the same positions to this day.
The old firm of Valentine, Breeder 81
Co., 217 Broad. which afterwards resolved
into Breeder & Fox, was then the highest
uptown dry-goods store OF any size.
The smaller retail merchants were
chiefly on Broad street and around the
markets. OF these were the Hutzlers,
the Goldsmiths, the Rosenields, Mittle-
dorfer, Straus Brothers, Stern, and many
others.
The boot and shoe business was done
by the well-known firms of Putney &
Watts (where 1 was made proud with my
first boots; Hubbard. Gardner &c Carlton;
Alexander HILL p. X. White & Co., on
Main, and d. b. Franklin on Broad.
The familiar sign Of the big book was
where j. w. Randolph & Co. kept store
for many years. Near by were also
Drlnker &c Morris. Joseph Gill. and across
the street Nash & Woodhouse, afterwards
WoOdhouse 81 Parham.
GROCERIES AND WHOLESALE
HOUSES.
The name of the grocery stores and
commission houses was legion, and my
memory would fail me IL L attempted TO
record them all. Yet there were few
special ones which still bring to mind a
vision of pleasant scenes, where coteries
of Jolly old Virginia farmers sat in
back rooms, stirring their tod
dies, cracking their Jokes, and
sampling the goods of the genial
propretors, who would always make
1t attractive for their country pa
irons. OF these were Colonel Walter ID.
Blair, No. Isl Main street; Gwathmey &
Lyme; f. Cranz, the father Of the pres
ent oscar Cranz; Colburn & Gentry, and
Richardson & Slater.
The larger wholesale merchants Of long
standing who did the chief importing
business were Workman, McGruder g.
Co., afterwards Charles Il. Workman, on
Fifteenth street; II. w. and ]. j. Fry, on
Fourteenth street; Edmond Sc Davenport,
on the basin; Womble & Winston, Gret-
ter & Gretter; Webb, Bacon & Co., and
many others.
The commission merchants were located
down on the basin and around the ware
houses. Wheat and tobacco were the
chief commodities, all else centered on
them Around old Seabrook's, Shockoe
and the Public warehouse, there were ex-
citing, busy scenes, where merchants snd
clerks would be hurrying and scurryfng
around, each one having a bundle of to-
bacco under his arm or pockets full OF
wheat, trying TO find a purchaser AT
that time there was no central exchange.
Some of the familiar names Of those days
were Frederick Bransford, Robert
Gwathmey, John A. Lancaster. Bernard
Peyton. James SPOTS, r. Triplett 81 Son.
John Womble, Jones e. Blair, Deano &
Brown, James Fishers Sons, Gibson 81
Thornton, and many more, most Of whom
became tho wealthy and influential men
Of the city in after years.
CHANGES IN THE CITY.
After 1850 the city began TO take on
more modern appearance, and many old
houses on Main street were torn down
and replaced by handsome four-story
brick buildings. such as the big stores
Of Kent, Paine e Co., Purcell 81 Ladd,
the American Hotel, and later the fine
row on Eagle Square, the new post
office, the Spotswood Hotel. the bank
building, the Dispatch building, all
going to show the increased wealth and
prosperity Of the town.
When the first omnibus line was estab
lshed and gas supplanted the old tallow-
dip and fish oil lamps, these innovations
were thought to be a wonderful advance;
then came the horse-cars and kerosene
ell, which in turn were supplanted by
electricity. Even the introduction Of
matches, steel pens, poStage-stamps, and
many other conveniences can be remem-
bered as marvellous inventions. What an
advance from all that do we now behold
I'm the city. with its miles OF electric
cars. telephone lines, and brilliant lights
and how we wonder that the past gene
ration lived without them. Il. c. NJ.
CTo be contlnued)