The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-29
A FAMOUS OLD -HOS2ELRY
Some Interesting "reminiscences of
Willard's Hotel.
Formerly the Home of the United
states PostoH;ce-JennyL Lind Sang
in the Dining Saloon to n Promi-
neut Audicnce-HiStOrica Dinner
to the Distinguished Lnfny cite.

The approaching doom of Willard's Ho-
tel. better known TO the old inhabitants as
Wilard's Tavern, which is soon 10 be torn
down to make room for a pretentious So
coo 600 structure. recalls many facts and
interesting "reminiscences Of the ancient
hosiery which has sheltered more notables
than perhaps any other public house in the
country. From this building every Presi-
dent from Polk to Cleveland went forth to
be inaugurated and such men as Lafayette,
Webster, and Clay made it their home
while in Washington.
1t is not generally known that when the
hotel first opened the United States
Postoffice Department was quar- cred
in the building and occupied three
small rooms on the first floor, at the corner
of Pennsylvania Avenue and Fourteenth
Street. Here the entire business of the
mail service of the country was transacted
by a handful of clerks, and in less space
Than is now devoted to the most humble
branch sub-postofIice. AS an evidence of
the growth OF the Union, it is a striking
comparison between the two magnificent
buildings now occupied by the Postoitice
Department ard the three little rooms
which proved ample when Wizards Hotel
first opened for the passing guest.
When Jenny Lind visited Washington In
1851 she sang in the dining hall of the hu-
tel. then the largest auditorium Of the kind
in the city. The audience which assem-
bled en- this occasion is a green memor?
in the minds of the oldest inhabitants and
was at Tat time a wonderful gathering
1t is related that President Fillmore and
the members of his Cabinet were present,
with all of the most famed personages of
the day, and the applause which followed
each rendition Of the singer was said to
be remarkable demonstration.
The hotel is actually so old that nobody
seems to know just when il was first
built" said Chief CLERK Lecch yesterday.
THE first purchaser was Walter Stewart.
who bought the land On which the first
buildings were erected in 1893. Son flter
this purchase buildings were erected which
we're used as dwelling houses. and finally
Incorporated into hotel The house sub
sequently bore the names of the Queen
and the City Hotel, and at the time it was
purchased by the Willard Brothers il was
called Fullers Hotel. Henry A. Willard
bought the PENNSYLVANIA Avenue portion
of the property on May 16, 1858. In 1873
the upper portion OF the grounds was pur
chased, and the hotel was remodeed TO its
present form in 1873.
ION the second floor of the hotel are the
Presidents rooms, opening over the main
entrance on to a balcony, from which
Presidents and orators have made their ad-
dresses to the public, and this was long
the favorite place of presenting prominent
speakers. From this point OF advantage
many of the anti-slavery speeches were
made.
THE first banquet given in the hotel
was rendered by Congress to the Marquis
de Lafayette in 1925. There were 200
guests present and it was a ten-days Won
der that the chef who prepared the feast
was paG 500 in gold for his services. At
the dinner Lafayette met the soldier who
had carried him from the field at Brandy
wine, and the distinguished Frenchman
presented his rescuer with $4,000.
The hotel was partially destroyed by
fire in 1861, but was soon rebuilt.
There were four Willard brothers who
have had part in running the Willard
Hotel. Edwin DOrr Willard and Henry
Augustus willard were the original own
ers. Later Joseph Willard was taken into
partnership. Edwin Willard died during
the war from the effects of disease con-
tracted while in the service. Caleb Will
lard the present owner of the Ebbitt
House. entered the service of his brothers
as a bellboy. Joseph Willard ran the ho-
tel for more years than any of the Willard
family
ION January 5. 1861. a caucus was held
at the hotel by fourteen Senators who
formed themselves into a directory to take
care of the South. Jefferson Davis VIZ
one of this number. The same year the
Peace Commission met at Wizards Hall,
but adjourned March l. finding their eff
forts unavailing. President Lincoln, ac-
companied by Ward Lamon and Norman
B. Judd. OF Chicago. arrived at the Wash
ingtOn depot in the grey of the morning of
February %. 1861. where they were met
by Elihu Washburne. who conducted them
to Wizards, where a conference was held
with Mr.. Seward. On March the Con-
federate Commissioners arrived and stay
ed at the same hotel.
"Cassius NJ. Clay organized a battalion
at Wizards in April, 1861. and many stir
ring gatherings assembled here. 1t seems
almost like a sacrilege to tear the old
place down.