Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-07-02
Passing Of AStor House Recalls
Some Memories.
Many Celebrated caravsnssrIes of the
Past Where Entertainment and
Epieurean Delights Were Fur.
nished Old Time Commands.

New York.-In obedience to the
same law OF progress that brought
about the tradition smashing advent
of the Astor house in 1886, that hotel
closed forever the other day to make
way for the subways. The passing of
the hotel has opened the fioodgates OF
sentiment and has sharpened the mem
cries OF old-timers concerning hotel
life on Manhattan island 80 and more
years ago.
Among the hotels whose patronage
the Aston came to dispute was the
City hotel in Broadway, occupying the
block between Thames and Cedar
streets. It's register carried the names
of most of the prominent people of tho
day and 1t was the most celebrated
house of entertainment in the city. A
plain, white structure, with curtain
less windows and inside shutters, 1t
was owned by Jennings & Willard,
who operated it on lines designed to
attract the ultra fashionable of the
day. Among the innovations attempt
ed by them after the arrival from Ed
rope of a fastidious customer, whose
fancy had been taken with the idea,
was the three O'Clock dinner. The IN
novation gave rise to dissension and
put many of the hotels patrons into
the mind that drove them to the Aston
as soon as it opened.
Also patronized by fashionable peo-
pie Of the day was the Washington,
occupying the mansion at Washington
and Marketfield streets, that had been
the home of Sir Henry Clinton, noted
in his day for generous hospitality.
A popular eating place when the
Astor opened was the dining room OF
the United States-better known as
Hall's-hotel at the corner of Water
and Fulton streets, with rear en-
trance on Pearl street. 1t was the
chosen stopping place of whaling ship
captains, who liked to run down to
the metropolis from New Bedford
Nantucket, Sag Harbor and New Lon
don between their long cruises. On
the cupola was a semaphore, known as
the marine telegraph, which an
nounced by the varying positions Of
it's arms the arrival Of vessels in the
bay.
The Auction hotel, at Water street
near Wall, so named because of its
proximity to the we'll known house!
of John Haggerty & Sons and vii
merding & Co., was started by Homes
George Brown, following his failure
as merchant. After season OF un
precedented success Honest George in
yited all his creditors to a banquet il
an upper room of the Auction. Eacl
found in his napkin a check for TIL
principal and interest of his claim,
One of the celebrated houses OF IT
day was Riley's Fifth Ward hotel, a
the corner of West Broadway an
Franklin street, which contained a mu
scum famed as a repository of relic
with historical associations, picture
of statesmen, uniforms of soldiers o
all nations and personal belongings C
celebrated men. Other exhibits range
from Indian war implements to tw
headed calf.
In Franklin street before Riley's doc
+ for years stood all that remained c
| the white marble statue of the earl c
: Chatham civilian Pltt) after 1t ha
t been dragged from Its base in Wa
> street. For 40 years the battere
! statue had lain covered with debri
. in the corporation yard until Rifle
e found 1t and honored 1t with a plac
. before his hotel door. 1t is now in th
rooms OF the Historical society, wher
It was taken after Riley's death.
The Province Arms, erected in 1SC
! at Broadway and Cedar streets, Q
the site of Lieutenant Governor L
Lancey's house, at which the nonir
portation agreement in opposition
y the stamp act was signed in 1776, VIZ