Evening star., 1907-10-26
= Sx<
NOW 4 HOTEL CENTER
intersection of Pa. Ave, and
9th st. SO Designated.
ONE ON EACH CORNER
Famous for Taverns in the Early
Days of the City.
PORTION ONCE UNDER WATER
Attack by Mob on Bar and Search
for Proprietor - Starting
Point for Stages.
ONE ON EACH CORNER
PORTION ONCE UNDER WATER

The building at the northwest corner OF
Pennsylvania avenue and 9th street has
been vacated by a railway company and
a hotel established there. This makes
the intersection a hotel center, hoste,ries
now occupying each OF the four corners
for the first tim, In it's history. While
the site is for the first time so used, the
neighborlood has from the beginning OF
the city been famous for it's taverns and
hotels. Woodward's Center Tavern having
been located a few doors west in 1902
the Indian Queen. now Metropolitan. fif-
teen years later. and In the twenties there
was a tavern at eth and C streets On
the south side, on the site of the Howard
House, William Lowell had frame tav-
ern or hotel, to which the names of John
Gardner. H. Burford and - Huddleston
later were attached. Before 1920 1t was
Carrolfs grocery; In the thirties McDer-
motifs tavern. and later John West
oyster house. A brick house was on the
site in 1850. and in this decade Almon
Green located there as an auction and
commission merchant. In war times 1t
became the Gilston House, and with the
European Hotel adjoining. was destroyed
by fire about 1888. At the fire P. En-
merich. the host of the European. was
killed by a falling wall 1t was during
the fire that the running pump at the
corner of 9th street ceased to flow, the
supply from the city spring giving out.
After being dry for several months the
water resumed flowing This caused
much wonderment in that section.
st. James site was once within the pub
lie grounds included in reservation B. and
In the early days of the Washington City
canal much of 1t was under water. This
was prior to 1922. when the canal was
NIT In no limo Of u ctr ri
angular part of the site only being solid
ground. There were prior to 1880 some
improvements on the corner John Caroth-
ers living in one house and Poor's auction
house adjoining. In after years Dave
Reed, tailor; Whally and others were
there.
The National Hotel site was before the
war of II owned by Samuel Cloaky. and
for ten years prior to 1926 the Wright
man buildings were there. Gen. r. c.
the owner residing and con-
Quoting the book business at the corner.
These were replaced by the hotel. which
has bee continuously conducted, first by
John Gadsby and later by Guy. S. 8.
Coleman. Tenney and Jones. H. 8. Ben
son, w. H. Tenney and others.
Literary and Political Center.
The northwest corner. the Atlantic site.
was first occupied by William Duane
printer and publisher. editor of The Phila-
delphia Aurora. who had accompanied
Thomas Law from India With an ex-
tensive acquaintance with the leading
characters of the day. his establishment
became a literary and political center.
Later the book and stationery business
was carried on by Benjamin F. French.
after whom came Gen. r. C. Wefghtman
about 1929. he moving from the site of the
National Hotel. The upper stories were
for many years used as a gambling es-
tablishment. and In the basement was one
of the leading eating houses and bar
rooms. with more than a local fame.
In the summer Of 1884 the building
which then stood there was attacked by
a mob. and the bar and restaurant in the
basement was depleted Of its stock of
liquors and provisions One Snow, fine
looking and before this time a popular
mulatto, was the proprietor Of the restau-
rant and was the object of the attack.
and would have been torn to pieces. At
this period the sentiment Of the commun-
ity sustained slavery, and now and then
when OPPOSITION to the institution was ex-
pressed In print or otherwise violence was
rested and lodged in jail for circulating
incendiary documents, and threats had
been made to attack the jail and hang
the man several times. mobs having
gathered for the purpose. To protect
him the authorities had asked military
about the jail. There was much appre-
hension that a serious riot would occur
and fears were entertained that the popu-
lace would cary out the threats. At this
juncture 1t was reported that Snow had
made a remark to butcher IN the mar
ket rejecting on the character of the
ladies of Washington. and 1t spread like
wildfire. in q little time the populace
becoming infuriated.
Rush by a Mob.
The crowd made a rush for Shows
place and failing to find him wrecked the
place. and. drinking the liquors. became
more wild with excitement For two or
three days the mob roved the streets, fol-
lowing where rumor located the object OF
their anger. and all colored people were
careful to keep out Of the way As 1t
was. some were pursued to their homes
and their windows broken The militia
was called out. but some of the promi-
nent citizens made efforts to allay the
storm by personal appeals to the infu-
rated men.
1t is said that order was restored by the
crowd becoming fatigued In following the
many rumors as to the whereabouts of
Snow. and heavy rainstorm had a cool
ing effect. At any rate. Snow made his
escape. the last seen OF him being in the
streets
The eating house was later conducted
by William Walker. William F. Benter,
P. NJ. Dubant and others.
The Center tavern. to the west, estab-
lished by Woodward about 1900, was one
of the first public houses in the neighbor-
hood and 1t was to 1t that the water was
taken from tho spring in the rear of the
District building in wooden pipes. about
1902, and this Is said to have been the
first of such piping in the District
This intersection was in the twentfes
and later the stage center of Washington,
for the various lines had offices in the ho-
tells near by. and in the days of buses
lines ran from them to the navy yard,
and the steamboat whaIves
JAMES CROGGCN.
Balloon Story Declared Incorrect.