The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-29
A FAMOUS OLD HOS9ELRY
Some Interesting "reminiscences of
Willard Hotel.
Formerly the Home of the United
states POstOGce-Jenny Lind Sang
in the Dining saloon to Promi-
ncnt Audicnce-HiStoricn Dinner
to the Distinguished Lafayette.

The approaching doom of Wizards HO-
tel. better known to the old inhabitants as
Wizards Tavern, which is soon to be torn
down to make room for a pretentious So
00000 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.
II is not generally known that when the
hotel first opened the United States
POstofiice 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-postofice. As an evidence Of
the growth Of the Union, it is a striking
comparison between the two magnificent
buildings now occupied by the Postolfice
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 no
tel. then the largest auditorium Of the kind
in the city The audience which assem-
bled On this occasion is a green memory
in the minds of the oldest inhabitants and
was at that time a wonderful gathering.
Il is related that President Fillmore ana
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 a remarkable demonstration.
The hotel is actually so old that nobody
seems to know just when it 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 fIter
this purchase buildings were erected which
were used as dwelling houses. and finally
Incorporated into a 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 it was
called Fuller's Hotel. Henry A. Willard
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.
"On the second floor OF the hotel are the
Presidents rooms, opening over the main
entrance on to a balcony. from which
Presidents ana orators have made their ad-
dresses to the public, and this was long
the favorite place Of presenting prominent
many Of the anti-savery 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 ten-days' won |
der that the chef who prepared the feast |
was paid 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 Freedman /
presented his rescuer with $1,000.
The hotel was partially destroyed by |
fire in 1861, but was soon rebuilt
There were four Willard brothers who |
have had a part in running the Willard /
Hotel. Edwin DOrr Willard and Henry |
Augustus Willard we're the original own |
ers. Later Joseph Willard was taken into |
Edwin Willard died during /
he war from the effects OF a disease con |
tracted while in the service. Caleb Viii /
lard, the present owner of the Ebbitt !
House. entered the service of his brothers /
as a ballboy. Joseph Willard ran the no !
tel for more years than any Of the Willard |
family.
ION January 3. 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 was |
one Of this number. The same year the |
Peace Commission met at Wizards Hail, |
but adjourned March l. finding their eff |
forts unavailing. President Lincoln aC- /
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 Elhu WashbuIne who conducted them
TO Wizards. where 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
al Wizards in April. 1861 and many stir
ring gatherings assembled here. II seems
almost like a sacrilege to tear the old
place down"