The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-10
CHURCH STANDS
WHERE BAR WAS
Bon Air Church One Of the Few
Constructed Out Of Remnants
of PooI-Room and Saloon.
Especial Dispatch to The Times

Especial Dispatch to The Tlme5.)
BON AIR, VA, August t9-Bon AIR mas
a church with a remarkable history; that
is remarkable and unique for iaXchurcn
The Methodist Church, of which Rev
Porter Hardy is now pastor, was Tor a
long time without a building. either Tor
a sanctuary or parsonage. me Bon
Air Land Company donated the neces-
snry land when the village was first lald
off, but funds remained scarce among the
build.
In 1890 the great fire came that de-
stroyed the Bon Air Hotel. When this
splendid building became heap Of ashes
the long detached building which served
as a bar-rOom, pool and billiard rooms
and a ten-pin alley was left standing.
Soon after the fire the Bon Air Company
gave the church this building and the
large lot upon which it stood. The breth-
rem cut it up and distributed it about the
lot for church and parsonage purposes
The front part or pool and. billiard rooms
became the parsonage. being removed
hundred feet down the hill, the ten-pln
alley and bar-room remaining where IL
had always stood, was converted into
chapel or church, and the rear part or
it. which had before been used as oottle-
house and general lumber room. was de-
tached, moved to the rear of the lot and
The Methodists have improved the prop
erty by degrees, and now they have
very neat and coy parsonage. a tony
stable and a very nice little church'
which, however, retains its long ten-pln
alley shape. I guess this is the only ten
pin alley and bar-room in the STATE that
was converted into a church
Mr. C. G. Whitworth, the agent OF me
Southern Railway, is another of the State
hpr9uSS
pass inhibition. He has long served TINS
community as a justice of the peace put
the fees were not as valuable 10 MN DIS
the passes that he and his fanny are
entitled to by virtue Of his being a rall-
read employe. Yesterday was MS laSt
day as a State official. Mr.. WhltWorth
can very we'll afford to surrender thls
position as he has plenty more leit.
In fact, he is the most numerous man IN
Bon Air, being railroad agent. express
agent postmaster. telegraph manaS ger,
telephone agent etc. He is also the &C
tive agent for a coffin factory IN ms
office is sign which informs the puolS
that he sells collins and caskets and In
suggestive even heartless proximity 10
it is another placard, which bears the
words, Take one
When Mr.. Whitworth closes up his Office
at midday or at night the BUSINESS Of the
village is practically suspended. Mr..
Whitworth acceptably fills one more posi-
ton. which I forgot to mention. He is
q steward in the Methodist Church He
is a repeating rife kind of citizen, is
strictly TT in Bon Air. and most
worthy one he is.
Messrs. ]. 5. Pace and ]. D. Patton, of
Richmond. spent an evening TINS week
with Mr.. w. S. Forbes
Mr. and Mrs A. l.. Adamson accom-
panied by Mrs. Gown, of Birmingham,
are on a short trip to Atlantic City,:
The Rev. Mr.. Caldwell. wife ana enid,
who have been the guests OF Mrs. Iru-
man Parker, left yesterday for their nome
in New Orleans.
Mr.. Benz. T. Crunp and family are
spending the last days OF summer III
Bon Air.
There was the usual round OF amuse.
ment and entertainment at the LIE Noel
Hotel this week Manager. Noel mas aooea
a tennis court to the lawn for the use OF
his guests and their friends, and cham
apionship contests are now in order.