Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-04-24
BOWLES' TAVERN
LONG LANDMARK
OF BROOK AVENUE
Commodious Hosiery Accom-
modated Large Country
Patronage.
LATER 1T WAS TRICKS
BUTCHER ESTABLISHMENT
Was Situated ON Henrico Por-
ton of Thoroughfare Near
Bacon's Quarter Branch.
ny G. a. bryce. VI. ID.

IN Speaking OF BROOK Avenue I'm
my recent contribution to The Times
Dispatch. unwitting!y aroused
'nany sleeping memories among its
many readers. for ! nave been re-
minded OF so many persons and places
that should have mentioned | now
reel mat have been unfair to the
memories OF lots Of old-t!mcrs who
lived on the avenue or I'm close
proximity thereto.
On the lienrIco portion Of Brook
Avenue a block or two from Bacon's
Quarter Rranch stood n commodious
tavern which accommodated a large
country patronage. ! am told by "A
party who was horn In the house on
the opposite side. subsequently owned
by Prick. the butcher. that she re-
members this tavern well but liz not
positive as TO the name of it's pro-
pricior. but she thinks IL was called
bowlcs'. | now rcmcmb-f the build
ing, but nifty years ago. instead OF
being tavern. IL was occupied by
negro tenants.
Chief Joyncs. Of the Fire Depart
rncnt. reminds me that between the
there was on the avenue u big tam
yard conducted By German. l..
GinmI. do not recall this tanncry.
hut about 1872. on the opposite side.
remember that this same old man
Gimmi" was "a wcighmastcr and had
his big scales near the bridge, where
he attended to the Weighing or the
farmers wagons hauling long feed"
and such cattle as were sold by gross
weight. lie was "A kind hearted Old
soul. ana in tho earlier years OF my
practice he rendered me invaluable
service in fixing up one OF his neigh
bors who was terribly wounded In
an accident. He had been Il tanner
and n weighmaster. hut he had
surgeons nerve and woman's heart.
At the corner OF Baker Street and
Brook Avenue stood "A big old brick
building and Il doctors sign hung
out need not give the name on
that sign. but wonderful record at
tachcs to its owner II seems that
before the War Between the States he
was preacher In Southern state
and man OF means.
In his enthusiasm over the cause
OF the Southern Confcdcracy he raised
:, company OF volunteers, armed ana
equipped them at his own expense
and as their captain brought them
to virginia and offered his services
10 the government At the battle OF
Manassas he led his men into action
and suddenly his courage failed h!n
and nc turned and He'd ignomnio
in face of the enemy. But his men
stood arm. On his mad retreat ne
was met by an officer who knew him
and had knpwn him as minister.
lie halted him long enough 20 ascer-
tain that he was not wounded but
scared almost to death, and said 10
him, You have been preaching about
Tho lows of heaven. and now that
Won have good chance TO 80 there
Won are running away from ii; run
along and hide yourself" Mortified
and disgraccd, he came to Richmond.
and down under the Exchange Hotel
started the manufacture OF patent
remedy, which suddenly became
success, and he had pretty niue
outfit for selling his stuff about town.
But this was short lived. for a ST
Louis concern, in some way, Got ms
formula away from him and put MN
out Of business, and when knew MN
he was living in this old house pow
crty-strickcn and alone. He ekcd
ont a living for a few years and died
MS much from grief and sclf-accusa-
lion as from actual disease and want.
II Ias my unpleasant task to attend
ND yk-h n
he asked me IL he was near the end,
asked him how he felt about going.
"Oh, said he, it is worth dying for
the privilege of seeing what is be-
yond" Poor old man. he suffered
much in this life, but died as phi
losophcr.
At the southeast corner of Leigh
and Brook Avenue, In very small
triangular space, stood the prescrip-
tion store of Cary Bros. fifty years
ago. These two brothers. George and
Francis, by their close attention to
business and by their pleasant man
ncrs made a host of good friends
and patrons from city and country
alike. and made money. 1t became
necessary in a few years 70. them
to have larger quarters. and they
purchased the property on the north
east corner and fitted 1t out and did
business there for some years. The
place has been a drug store ever
since, having been conducted by my
friend, Wallace c. Saunders. for moro
than n quarter Of n century.
At the northeast corner OF Brook
Avenue and Clay Streets stood the
residence OF Robert w, oliver, whose
largo tobacco factory ran half block
northwardly on the avenue His
family consisted OF only himself and
wife and niece who visited them
and spent much Of her timo with
them. He was most companionaEle
man and nearly every evening would
find a goodly gathering OF kindred
spirits assembled In his cheerful
e>>>->>N~-S t.s 49, s<->>>>>i->, $500