Evening journal., 1915-07-03
QUEEN MAY BE NAME
OF TOPKIS Theatre
In Honor of Hotel and
Street of That Name
In Bygone Days
DELAWARE HISTORY
LINKED WITH SITE

Recent purchase Of the Clayton House
property and the announcement that it
was TO be converted into an elaborate
theatre, having a capacity of more than
1000. with several stores on King
street and two on Market street is still
creating much discussion among real es-
tate men of this city.
A reporter happened TO meet Charles
Topkis, president of the new corpora
tion, the Wilmington Amusement Com
pany, which is building the new theatre,
and upon questioning him learned that
the new theatre might be called "Ihe
Queen Theatre"
"Plans to the minutest details have
been finished and it only remains for
more complete and detail examination,
and then we will start work on what
think will be the greatest improvement
upon Market street." said Mr.. Topkis.
"We believe the name Of the theatre
will be The Queen Theatre. While at
first it may seen a rather peculiar name,
still / think it combines both beauty
and history. Several score of years ago
the Indian Queen Hotel stood upon tins
spot. Fifth street was then called
Queen street. That makes it rather ap-
propriate."
Mr. Topkis had a business engage
ment and did not have time to 60 into
the subject further. The reporter,
anxious to learn more. consulted Con-
RAIDS History of Delaware. From this
he learned the following facts.
The Indian Queen Hotel at the
northeast corner Of Fifth and Market
streets, for three-quarters of a cen
tury was a leading hotel in this city.
where people of quality we're enter
tanned and where banQuets we're
spread in honor of the dignitaries. It
can be traced back to 1889, and Enoch
Welch. who served as postmaster of
the city from 1896 to 1898 was one of
the early proprietors. Stages that
ran from Philadelphia to Baltimore
stopped there, as did the stage line
down the Peninsula.
David Brinton succeeded Welch as
proprietor in 1900 and conducted the
house for three years, when Charles
Hamilton took charge for few
years, and then came Eli Lamborn
who continued there until 1925. Next
came James Plumly, remaining three
by Alexander Porter who stayed FIVE
years.
John M. Smith was the landlord in
1888. and after running the hotel for
thirteen years had accumulated
enough means to buy a large farm on
Bohemian Manor. to which he retired
in 1S46 Under John Halls manage
ment the building was doubled in ca
pacity. He remained four years and
gave way to John Foster in 1850. who
was in charge until 1855. In the lat
ter year Charles Almond became pro-
prietor, and under his management
Il was a very popular hostelry He
was followed by Miller G. Harlan, the
senior partner being Samuel Miller
who formerly was proprietor of the
Washington House. and the junior
partner being J. Marshall Harlan
Miller remained but a short while
when Harlan became sole proprietor
and he in turn sold out TO Benjamin
c. Pearce. After Pearce came ]
Pusey Smith. and at the death of the
latter. Isaac c. Pyle came into con
troll in 1867, and continued until the
demolition of the building in 1871.
The old Indian Queen Hotel prop
erty was sold in 1871 and the next
year its life as a hotel ended. The
new owners were the Artisans Saw
lngs Bank and the First National
Sank. Prompted by the feeling that
Wilmington needed first class hotel
the Clayton House was projected and
named for the distinguished Della
warean and statesman, John NJ Clay
ton. II was completed in 1873 and
cost over 100000 Its completion
marked a new era in Wilmington ho-
tels. Several men prominent in viii
mington and vicinity we're managers
Of the Clayton House. the last beinf
Harry Bothman. who commenced in
1897 and was manager up until re-
gently.
Thinking il might be of interest tC
recall something about John NJ Clay
ton, the writer ascertained the follow
lngi
John NJ. Clayton. distinguished
Delawarean and iurist. was born a
Dagsboro, Sussex county. in 1895. sor
OF James Clayton and nephew OF on'
OF the first governors of Delaware
Joshua Clayton. and one Of thu
strongest men that Delaware hal
produced. His mother was Saral
Middletown and to her he always at
tributed much of his success in life
He attended a classical school al
Lewes, graduated with high honori
rom Yale University and was admit
ed to the Delaware bar in. 1919
He was Secretary OF State unde
Governors Paynter and Polk. In tn
Jackson-Adams contest of 1928, h,
led the Adams party in Delaware {,
victory and was rewarded by election
to the United States Senate. He wa
subsequently reelected in 1ss5
1S45 and finally in 1853. In 1s4s. MIR
Clayton became United States Secre
tary of State, and during his term
negotiated the celebrated CLAYTON
Bulwer treaty with Great Britain. II
1887, he was induced to accent the va
,ant once of Chief Justiceship of IN
State. which position he held durini
three years only. His course upol
the bench, though short. was sufi
cient TO exhibit thorough
equipped lawyer and jurist From hi
Judgment there was never a writ o
error He died while a member o
he Senate in 1856. For awhile h
owned and lived on the Buck farm
,aar paar Station