Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-08
GIVES UP THE HOTEL.
MR. FORD RETIREs FROM THE
HOUSE BEARING HIS NAME.
NOW In THE TRUSTEES HANDS
The Place to BE Improved, and May
he Conducted by Those I'm Charge
of the Estate-History OF the Hotel
as n Nucleus of Good Fortune.

Judge Lamb will enter a decree in the
Chancery Court to-day. dissolving the
agreement entered into between Mr.. a.
j. Ford and the trustees Of his estate
whereby he became life tenant OF the
hotel known by his name, which is sit
uated on the north side of the Capitol
Square, Just east of the City Hall.
The causes which have led TO this step
are a multiple Chief among them. how
ever. 1t is claimed. is the failure Of Mr..
Ford TO spend a certain sum each year
On repairs The old regime, which has
fourished for nearly third Of century,
came TO an end on Monday night, and
the hotel is now under the control of the
trustees. but the personal management
OF Mr.. c. C. Broaddus. who has been
chief clerk there for the past two years.
Mr.. Broaddus is a native Of Caroline
county. and near relative OF DR.. John
A Broaddus.
IN THE TRUSTEES HANDS.
The trustees of the Ford estate-M essrs.
Edgar Allan and Preston Cocke-have
made arrangements to have the hotel
completely overhauled 1t will be painted
and decorated without and within the
layatories and bathrooms will be re-
fitted, and the drainage will be thorough
ly inspected. The dining-room and other
apartments will be refurnished. and sew
eral other important alterations will be
made.
The future management of the hotel Is
a matter Of considerable speculation.
Among those who have been looking over
the property with view TO taking a
lease when the improvements are COM
pleted are Mrs. A. d. Atkinson, pro-
prietor OF the Lexington Hotel; Mr.. NJ.
s. Dieken. formerly chief clerk at Ford's
Hotel but now proprietor Of the Chiquala,
at Anderson, s. c.; Messrs b. w.
and S. II. Ford. two of the owners.
and another gentleman. whose name may
not be published 1t has not yet been
decided whether lease will be given or
whether the trustees will continue to run
The hotel under a management controlled
by them.
Mr. W. c. Mcdowell the active mana
ser of the hotel left last night for
Weynesboro'. TO take charge OF Ford 5
I4lthia Springs. which has been leased by
Mrs. Mcdowell.
Mr. A. j. Ford will continue to make
his home and headquarters. when IN
Richmond, at the hotel which bears his
name, and which has been so long and
80 successfully conducted by him.
HISTORY OF THE HOUSE.
Ford's Hotel stands now where once
the old Powhatan House stood That
property was sold in 1869 under decree
of the Court in the suit of Scott and wife
against McKrdoe's Executor and others.
II waN purchased by Mr.. Ford as trustee
for his wife and children. 1t was then a
dilapidated old structure, much smaller
in size than at present. Mr.. Ford imme-
diately commenced to make improve
ments in the house, and made such a
success from the start that although only
$50 was required 10 be paid In cash.
and the bulk Of the purchase money re-
manned on interest for seventeen years
during the lifetime Of Mrs. Mary l. Col
Inns. still the purchase of this propert,
formed the nucleus out of which Ia.
sprung the large estate now held under
the original trusts during the lifetime OF
Mrs. Ford. and is TO be equally divided
at her death among her four children.