The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-04-28
ON THE FAR
POTOMAC
Famous Hotel Sees it's
Last Days.
THE PASSING OF WILLARDS
An Institution Closely Allied With
the Early History of the Am
erican Government.

WASHINGTON, April 1l.-lCorre-
spondence.) - Washirgton's historic
hostelry, the old Willard Hotel, Is
about to be torn down to make room
for a building more in harmony with
the times. Such step seems like
piece OF vandalism when one considers
the part this building has played IL the
history of this Government. Froh. its
walls has gone forta to his inaugura-
tion every President since the time OF
Polk, with the exception OF Harrison,
Cleveland and Mckinley. The exact
origin of this hotel seems to be prehis-
toric. No date has been kept; II has
; had as many different names as a fris-
ky devotee of the divorce court, and
, its appearance has changed as often
and as materially as its name. =
The land on which the hotel In built
came from the grant of David Burns to
the Government as his concession when
the Government decided TO locate the
capital here. The first purchaser was
Walter. Stewart, who bought the land
. on which the first buildings were erect
| ed in 1893. Soon after this purchase
buildings were erected which were used
D as dwelling houses, and finally incor-
\ porated into hotel. The first postof-
: flee which Washington ever had once
!. occupied the rooms which were after
8 wards remodelsd and made into what
= is now known as the Presidents suite.
One of the earliest names OF the
e house was the Mansion Hotel. which
q was kept by Frederick Barnard. prior
A to 1880. 1t is described as having "a
! frontage of $50 feet on Pennsylvania
avenue and IFS feet on Fourteenth
street, situated in an elevated and
pleasant part of the city and in the
Immediate neighborhood of the Pres
ident's house and the public offices. II
= has four suites of apartments for the
- accommodation of families, or separ-
ate messes, distinct entirely from the
public part of the house and with sep
"a arate entrances, contains over 100
rooms, and has spacious and superior
stables attached to the establishment
This was as it was in 1890
In these early days there was but
one sidewalk. and that made out OF
chips of stone left over from the capi-
- tol The street was often a quagmire
re and not infrequently in the rainy sea
he son were wagons buried to the hub In
20 mud. Not until 1871 was the first
% pavement completed. and then a grand
on carnival was held, and Willard's was
ua gay in celebration of the event.
"a. One of the first guests to stop at the
Ios hotel was the Hon. Benjamin Patton
- and a bill is still preserved which was
ne rendered to him March 8, 1879. Mr.
'se Patton regularly stopped at this hote
lin during every subsequent Inauguration
m until 1897, when he died. lie was ap
pointed United States District Attor
VI ney from the Western district or Penn
ter sylvania in 1850.
Ter Had Many Names.
" This hotel subsequently bore tn
~ names OF the Queen and the City Hole
tue and at the time 1t was purchased b.
ar the willard brothers IL was called Ful
led ler's Hotel. Henry A. Willard oough
'he the Pennsylvania portion OF this prop
zen erty on May 16. 1853. In 1875 the up
eel per portion of the grounds was pur
ua' chased, and the hotel was remodeled
the its present form in 1873. The from
the and sides are of brick, with trimming
on of gray stone. II has frontage OF 10
ian feet on Pennsylvania avenue and 80
on feet on Fourteenth street. IL Is 81
on stores high. The entrance leads Int
a large court. Fronting this Is the o.
TO flee. with paved floor, and adjoinin
'iaJ the office is a grand court or rotund
uni whose gilded columns rise to the to
Sc of the dome From this dome fol-
persons ltil anu Ntit III - ~
ing struction. The whole length OF u
DER Fourteenth street side Is occupied by
iay. waiting room and the dining room Or
lst- feature of the ground floor wnicn
had ures prominently is the bar, and n
be- has played an important par- in hi
ing tory and politics. Many are the in
,ne- portant events OF state which ha'
rom been discussed over this counter, az
nan many a political measure has been
ne mented by the drinks set up by son
anxious member with a bill TO
mat passed. AS is customary In eu'
saw places, a lot OF disreputable lounge
Slng began to infest the place. much - q
he disgust of the moneyed habitues. .he
tur- "old-timers" would sidle up TO the
tam whenever a party was drinking, a.
by posing as friends of some one in I
marty would get their drinks VITA I
rest. Growing tired Of this, one sma
Young man took the matter IN
ld'e hands for remedy. Beau Hickm
She was one of these old FOUNDERS. WI
tons a curIed mustache and fierce militia
o,r, air. He sided up to the bar one
as a party Of patrons OF the hot
rom were drinking, and was served WIN I
way rest. Leaving his glass half hn!sh'
Her he turned TO talk to some one OF