Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-08
LEXINGTON RELIC
OF GL..O||R||OUSPA
Center of Social and Political
Activities Half Cen
fury Ago.
LAST OF OLD TAvEREs
Favorite Retreat for virginia's
Lawmakers and Folks From
Down Home.

fhe building occupied by the Ley
7 'hston Hotel was ono of the struc-
lures that arose from tho ruins Of
the evacuation OF Richmond in 1861
Prior to the war Twelfth and Main
streets was the center of social and
poiitical activities. Newspaper Of
noes 'averns, Inns and hotels were
scattered along from Seventh Street
10 the Old Market. Most of these
oid landmarks were destroyed in the
condensation Incidental to the evae-
uation, and modern Main Street
arose.
Prior TO the war the American
Hotel stood at the southwest corner
OF Eleventh and Main streets. IL
went down in the holocaust When
Main Street was reconstructed. a
building designed originally for
hotel purposes. small for the prescn,
+ era but considered massive In those
days, was erected Mt Twelfth and
Main Streets by Henry K. Exan, n
contractor. architect and builder. He
owned the property. and for some
time prior to the establishment Of
the hotel. maintained his Offices in
the upper floors OF the building.
Thomas a. Alfricnd & Company, in
surance agents. had Offices In the f,rst
moor. and tho basement was occupied
BY Samuel Sycle & Company, mer.
chants.
Old Publishing House.
Next door was occupied by H. NJ.
Hardwood. printer and publisher.
who printed number OF weekly
and monthly journals, including the
Richmond Educational journal, the
Farmers Gazette. the Old Dominion
Monthly. and the Religious Herald.
In this building were, also. the bank
Ing nrm of Thomas Branch & Com
toners and book dealers.
In 1870 the hotel was opened as
the American Hotel. under the man
agcmvnt OF Dodson &c Son. and in
1925 the name was changed to the
Hotel Lexington, under the manage
mcnt Of Mrs. -. ID. Atkinson, the
rodsons moving up Twelfth Street to
the old ST. james. afterward the Cap
( itoi and then tho Dodson. and later
the KelIam Hospital. }E1
In 1902 the Lexington Hotel Com
pany was Incorporated, Mrs. Akin
son taking her sons into the concern,
Laundry was established in the lower
floor of the Twelfth Street side. S. T.
Atkinson conducted this laundry un-
I'll the Atkinsons retired from the
Lexington to build the Hotel Rich
mond. During the Atkinson regime
the business of the hotel grew be-
You'd It's capacity.
Additions 10 Hotel.
Several additions were made to tho
south wing and new rooms were in
stalled on the Main Street front. This
increase in business was largely due
to the business capacity of Mrs. At
kinson and her son Sam" Tho Lex
ington had n largo clientele from
North Carolina. and many members
4 OF tho General Assembly stopped
regularly there. In the early years
OF the Antisaloon League campaign
many leaders In that movement pat
ronizcd the Lexington.
In 1909, Mrs. Atkinson retired from
the Lexington, and later the property
was acquired by Felix keegan, and
Thaw SC Grant. subsequently the
management was In the hands OF
James Donahue, and tho property was
purchased by Frederick Sitterding,
who had Just given contracts for ex-
tensive improvements. prior to the
taking over of the management by
contract. with the privilege of an
additional five years. a modern tele-
phone service was being Installed, a
new elevator was being erected and
extensive repairs and decorations
were In contemplation.
Last of Old Hotels.
In the passing OF the Lexington
Hotel the last of the old obstetrics
passes into history guided by the
spirits of gruesome tragedy and
heart-breaking pathos. In the old
days the Lexington. Ford's, the Ex-
change and Ballard. st. Charles, St.
James, st. Clair, the Imperial were
the important carayansariee. All of
them had their heyday of popularity.
The Exchange and Ballard stood the
test as leader for many years. From
the debris OF these have arisen Rich
mond's present-day magnificent hoteIs
+ tho Jefferson. Murphy's. the Rich
mond. Rueger's and Stumprs, the
latter, however, soon to pass from
a hotel into the realm OF business.
Tho old hotels were comparatively
small. and as consequence were
we'll filed with guests. The present,
day mammoth structures, fewer In
number. answer the demand.