Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-01
THE OLD UNION HOTEL.
Interesting RccolIections of This
Once Famous Hosiery.

For the Dlspatch.)
A few words as to the old Union Hotel,
now being dismantled by workmen, 10
make way. presume, for tenements. that
WILL when erected, pay a better percent
ago than that once elegant structure has
paid 10 its owner these many years. The
East End had not entirely ceased TO be
the court end Of the city IN 1916 when the
Union was built The old city Tavern,
Just opposite it-every veslige Of IL now
Vanished-Was built OF wood, and served
It's day IL was not thought in the flush
times after the war OF lSl2 TO be capa-
ciOus enough, or elegant enough, 10 ac-
commodate the fashionable people who
then dwelt in the East End, or the FASH
iOnables who then visited our historic
city. The rage for brick buildings having
set 10. the Old Swan, the old Indian
Queen. both of wood. were 10 be thrown
into the shade, and only the Eagle-built
In l79S-was 10 be r.yaledi
One Dudley il l mistake not was the
Unions architect and builder. He did his
work well as the exterior and interior
OF IL still shows. he built about the same
time that elegant row Of tenements sit
uated on the north side OF Main street be-
tween Nineteenth and Twentieth streets.
These tenementa were the pride Of the
oity--their slated roofs, their dOrmer win
d0ws, their archeG doors, their lofty
stories-then considered lofty marked
on evcntful stage I'm the progress
of Richmond. Ills a pity they have
been mutilated-not at all improv-
ed-but made shabby by the greed Of the
Vandali Shabby as they and the Union
appear. they are still In their old age
beautiful TO the antiquaTy. In the rear or
the Union once stood the Indian house
occupied years ago by mercantile nrm
whose members are no longer remem-
bered whose purposes are no longer
known. Whether they held the trade OF
the East or the West Indies Is not POSI-
lively known. MOrdecai doesn't tell. Main
street In 1876 was 4 road II not street
but Gary street was not anything put
street or paper. and even on paper II
was letterad ID" The southern limits OF
the town OF Richmond. as defined by act
of the legislature, was Its north llne-all
between il and the river was commons
shelf Of land from Main street ran
blur towards the river. even as late as
1916 and but two ways IRON the upper
town % the lower town. or Rockets, We're
passable-one by the Alaia, the other Dy
Water street This Water street has been
so changed that an old resident wouldn't
now. r. living be able 10 identify It,
The first guest. the first LOGGER. OF the
Union Hotel was one John equity, scot
bv birth, a Nirginian by adoption. re
was On 1876 on his way 10 Georgia 10
superintcnd the public works tnete. MS
works en- that state and IN Virginia les-
ftfy 20 his eminent ability as civil
engineer The celebrated Charles ElieJ
WAS one Ct his pupils. Inc u't.l was
scarcoly finished when Mr.. Couty lodged
i'm it. This account [ had from him
many wears afterwards.
The Union was IN all its glory when
LAFAYETTE became In 1924 the guest N
our city. As the long procession marched
up from Rockets, the hero. then ad-
vanced I'm years, was greeted by a thron z
Of people the like Of which had never
before been Witnessed by the citizens;
Not only was all the city there, but all
The country. too. The Union Hotel was
the first in the progress TO pay It's re-
spects 10 Lafayette I'm the form OF a
nowery arch, which extended over Main
street from one corner TO the other Inc
late John Finders, Jr.. in relating this cir
cumstance 10 me- said: Though child
al the time l remember some things That
a man might forget. As Lafayette came
to the arch. under which he was TO pass
he looked up and saw I'm large letters the
words. welcome Lafayette l stood
with my father and mother near. the
great arch-how grand and beautiful II
looked,-and when the great man was
pointed out 10 me. / cheercd him as
Justify as others, and waved a welcome
| with my little flag ~,-,