The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-07-12
Exchange Hotel a Dry Goods Store.

once and M0sby, WllkensOn % Anuer
son, wholesale dry goods and notior
merchants, are to have the remodelleC
part Of the building. The work vii
probably be completed by the early fal
and the firm will move at once into the
new establishment.
The present occupants OF the lower
end of the building are preparing Il
vacate at an early date, and that par
of the building is to be completely rem
ovated and the interior and exterior ap
pearsnce entirely changed.
HISTORIC BUILDING.
About this old building there Is
good deal Of history, little bits Of which
have been passed down for the past six
~ years from those who have been mos
Ultimately connected with the famoul
hostelry.
Across Franklin street in little cor
ner room of the Ballard Hotel, liyeI
Watchman Sharpe, who was there wher
the Exchange opened, and has almost
continuously resided in that same spo'
for three score years. He Ia an active
little man, with rollicking, laughing
eyes that twinkle joyously as be smokes
his pine and Gwells in reverie about the
walls Of tho historic building. He tells
the story Of its conception by a company
Of Richmond capitalists and OF the won
der In the eyes OF the pee pie Of Virginia
As the building grew TO proportions con-
sidered so enormous in those days.
THE PRINCE OF WALES VISIT.
Then be recalls the time when, as o
Young gallast, the Prince Of Wales Wis
tied this country and revelled in Vir'
ginia society for seven or eight days,
having the whole OF the second floor Of
the Exchange Here His Royal High
ness was first introduced to the min
iulep. Those days, he says. were th'
palmiest Of the life Of the Exchange
and only once was the gaiety OF th'
place interrupted, and that was to re
ceiye the remains Of President Monroe
when the Seventh New York Regimen
and hundreds Of prominent statesmen
were the guests Of the hotel.
The old watchman is neariDg tn
close of his three.score years and ten
and he knows the history Of the build
ing in which he has so long resided.
SIXTY YEARS AGO.
"The grandest day In Virginia
hotel history. says the old man, " wa
July 4 lS4l, when the Exchange trs
threw open its doors to the public an
a gala day was celebrated by the 80
ciety Of the Old Dominion. A grea
banquet was spread in honor Of the oc
| cssion, and at night the ballroom wa
the scene.of the gathering Of the beaus
and gallantry Of this and other States
The military were present and tn
Governor and State officers and othe
men prominent in the history OF tn
State lent their presence to make tn
event one never to bs forgotten.
THAT night" continued the oil
man. was the beginning Of the goo
days. 1t was after that that the Primo
of Wales and his party Of fifteen o
twenty royal guests came to see Rich
mond, and that series Of entertain
ments was rendered the distilguishe
visitors. 'Twss after that again tina
Monroe's body was brought here, On
then it was that Richmond saw tn
largest gathering that has ever attend
ed funeral In this part Of the country
so:tar as my recollection records.
LOVE MAKING CENTRE.
Month In and month out there wei
social events that brought there th
bellies of Virginia and the beaux froi
other States, and the place became
loye.makiug centre. Those old wal
could tell some tales that might inte
"a. children and grandchildren VII
plsy about the parks Of Richmond &
dav. They are full Of local history.
The Ballard House. directly acro
franklin street, began fight Tor
norton Of the public patronage in 100
The old ballroom Of she Exchange
70 be torn to pieces and there will be
memento left Of the revels upon whi'
tbey looked. Watchman Sharpe sa'
that after period Of eclipse later da.
brought back good times to the e
change, and for few years the peop
of the Oarolinas aud Of Virginia wou
hiring back to his mind the days Of o
when their fathers and grandfathe
had borne themselves gaily and brign
lv there. 1t was not only the social b
the political and commercial centre
the State. Many campaign has be-
outlined and many a deal made thei
and at one time 1t was headquarters I
the leading country merchants W
came to buy their stocks.
. The house had been gradually losi
3 its pace in public favor many yea
even after IL became the Ballard q
b Exchange and was united by the cC
' cred bridge, which used to be the
. vorite lounging place and FendszVc
for some Of the best people In Virgin
Il was closed finally four years 81
Il when the Jefferson drew from 1t
}, best customers. Il was last used a
}, barrack for the Third Regiment.
I, China in 1860 and 1900.