Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-12
MADISON HOUSE.
FAMED IN DIXIE,
BEING WRECKED
Montgomery Hotel, Pride of the
Old Days, Falls Before March
of Progress.

MONTGOMERY. Oct. IA hos
teiry. picturesque in the history Of
Alabama and the Southland and
tinged with glamour during the
life Of the Confederacy. is the Did
Madison Hotel which Is being
wrecked 70 make way for a modern
four-story brick building.
In the old days Of the code duello
the Madison House was known far
and near 10 the knights Of the green
cloth, to politicians OF the old school
and to other followers Of fancy.
Within it's lobby illustrious men have
gathered, history has been made AMI
duels have had their inception.
IL was from an upper window that
Mrs. Jefferson Davis. wife Of the
President q the Confederacy stood
with a party Of Southern women and
witnessed the fret review OF the Con
federate Army.
Once the Pride Of the Cit.
But now the puffs OF a stationary
engine, the rafting OF chains and the
noise Of the falling Of bricks chant
the requiem of the old landmark, THE
Cradle Of the Consederacy."
For So years II stood. and once was
the pride OF the city. The structure
was but IS years younger than the
State OF Alabama.
II was the haven Of Georgians, Ala
bamans and South Carolinans. as Wen
a. citizens OF other States south OF
the Mason and Dixon line.
II was the scene OF great society
events. where bellies and beaus OF ants
belium days gathered, where states
men assembled, where the great
American game was INDUCED and
Fome participants lost their money,
then their slaves and last their plan
tations.
Saloon in Rear.
In brick structure on Perry
street In the rear of the hotel was a
harbor for those who sought solace
in the flowing bowl. And in here
there sometimes occurred misunder-
standings, 70 put II mildly, which re-
suited in hrearm demonstrations II
also. was the scene Of the origin Of
the code duello,
But few Of the Oldest inhabitants
Of Montgomery could tell when the
Madison House was built and by
whom visit to the Office Of the
City Engineer, where building per
Tnits are granted. was unproductiNe.
The clerks OF that Office considered a.
q joke for such a q~sstion TO be
asked.
Facts were obtained from Colonel
Wade Mcbride 10 the effect that the
Madison House was built in 1s47.
His father conducted a drug store on
the site. This store was burned Thea
the Mobiles, who owned the ground,
erected the Madison House. II was A
five-story editice, made OF old time
brick and considered the finest in the
city.
Charles Abercrambie was the first
proprietor and wak succeeded in 1880
by Washington Tilley. OF Washington.
ID. C., who conducted the Motel until
1852, when william II. Taylor Sr.,
took the management and ran the no
tel for six years.
Had Many Managers.
II was then that the Madison House
became famous throughout the South,
Mr.. Taylor's father was one Of the
early Governors Of South Carolina,
the family emf grating TO Alabama
from Columbia. All South CAROLYN
ans made this hotel their headquar-
Gers.
When Mr.. Taylor gave up the hotel
10 enter another line OF business,
Cook e. Contalou took charge, and
were followed by John Irby connect
ed with the Gunters. famous fam
lily of this section.
JUST bet0Ie Lft WAT joe t-iEEdAlbt q
Corsican. leased the hotel He had
been a cook in a New York restau-
rant. and while preparing his viands
managed to inadvertently put some
thing In them which poisoned the
patrons Of the place, including him
self So he hurriedly left Gotham.
Others who managed the place We're
Captain Gin Kennedy, Sih Kirkland
Nj. thlfelder and then Frank Hervey.
who died. several years ago in Mo
bile He left four sons whom he
taught the hotel business
After Mr. Hervey's lease expired
the place began to lose its prestige,
and Il was turned into a boarding
house, then Office rooms finally with
a cheap clothing store on the corner
OF the ground floor and a delicatessen
store next door.
Captain Taylor Gives Facts.
When william II Taylor conducted
the hotel il was popular and profita-
Bile He had six sons and two daugh-
ttrs. The oldest Of the former then
about IA years old, Captain Thomas
TAYLOR. was clerk and boOkkeeper I'm
der his father. and remained In that
capacity when the elder Taylor relin-
quished the place IL Is from him
that interesting facts were learned.
Captain Thomas Taylor IS nearly so
now DAL Is N4EtEbANs Tic IL tou-
nected with the Office OF the State
Treasurer.
The two daughters OF the Taylor
family were universally conceded TO
be the most beautiful young girls OF
the South in their day. Miss Mary
Taylor married Major Albert Elmore
a Confederate soldier who after the
war, was appointed by General Grant
to be collector Of customs at the port
Of Mobile
Miss Sallie Taylor married Colonel
John W A. Sanford. Sr-. who COM
manded . regiment in the Confederate
army and after the strife was a dis
tinguished lawyer of Alabama and At
lo1ney General Of the State
Noted Persons as Guests.
Among the many distinguished men
Who either made the Madison House
their home or stopped there during
their travels was Governor John An
thony Winston. He made the hotel
his homo during his term OF Office.
John T. Morgan, then a member OF
Inc Alabama Legislature, was a CUES,
there ana often related the pleasant
times he had In the Madison House
Henry Clan and Martin va Riarr n