Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-15
ST. JAMES YIELDS
TO MARCH OF TIME
Historic Hotel Closes Doors
and Fittings Will Go Un-
der Hammer.

Following the way of many other
old Washington landmarks which
have been wiped out with the on
slaught of time, the st. James Hotel,
Pennsylvania avenue at Sixth street,
Monday the entire equipment of the
hosiery will be offered for sale at auc-
ton.
While the St. James. which was
founded during Civil War days, has
held it's own remarkably we'll in the
face Of .ever-increasing competition
from newer and more costly hotels,
Levi woodbury. Wheeler, proprietor Of
the place, announced today the prop
erty was to be sold to close the estate
of his father, Hylas T. Wheeler, who
operated the hotel until the time of
his death. October 90, 1924.
The famous old hotel is a scene Of
activity as workmen disnantle the
place in preparation for the auc.
tioneers, who next week will knock
down" tapestries, quaint old paintings,
fencing swords and other heirloonas
of bygone generations. The auction
sale win proceed until the entire equip.
ment has been disposed Of, according
to the legal notice announcing the
sale,
Future in Doubt.
What use will be made of the build.
ing is not known. The building and
the ground during the near 20 years
of.the operation of the st. James were
leased TO the hotel. The property now
is. owned by heirs Of Clarence Beall,
Ford Thompson and by Dr.. c. A,
Christiarli.
The st. James Hotel was founded
by Levi Woodbury., who came to
Washing ton during the Civil War.
The hotel in its early days was one
Of the most popular hostelries in the
Capital and enjoyed a steady and large
patronage. Standing directly across
the street from the old Pennsylvania
Railroad Station, which was located
at Sixth ana B streets, the st. James
attracted large share OF the tran.
sient business.
It became, In fact, virtually the
Washington residence Of many trav-
elers who regularly and frequently
stopped over here en- route to points
North and South. In more recent
times, however, this patronage has
! "
Kept High Reputation.
From the start the proprietors OF
the hotel placed special emphasis upon
maintaining high regulations for the
place. At the outset Mr.. Woodbury.
told the elder Wheeler, it Is recalled:
"I don't care IL we have no more than
four patrons, we will have them right;
that is to be the policy Of this hotel"
Mr.. Woodbury., following the estab-
lishment of the st. James, founded
and became the head Of the Norfolk
& Washington Steamboat Co., which
still is in operation.
There has been an unusual element
Of permanency in the management of
the hotel, though its proprietorship
has passed through three generations.
The hotel employees, for the most part,
are veterans and a number served
with the first owner, Mr.. Woodbury..
For them the abandonment Of the
hotel was like the breaking up OF a
home.
Mrs. Grace I. Holt, hostess Of the
hotel, has served in that capacity for
20 years. Then there Is Peter viii.
kins, waiter in the ST. James Cafe,
who admits to a service Of at least
IS years.
Answered Bells 80 Years.
The head bellman, William Berry,
has answered calls at the hotel for
80 years. and Miss Lucy Mattingly,
parlor maid, only during the past
January celebrated her thirtieth ami.
versary. Of employment at the st.
James.
In dts earlier years, 1t was recalled
today by Mr.. Wheeler, who came here
from New York to settle the estate.
the hotel was favorite stopping
place. Of bridal couples, and at one
time. there were 80 newly welded
couples in the hotel at the same time.
Frequently these same couples have
returned in later years and made
themselves known to Mrs. Holt. Dur.
ing the convention of the American
| Medical Association here a delegate
called at the st. James and said he
had stopped there with his bride 81
| years before.
The. st. James Hotel contains but
four stories, but is as high as many
modern six-story buildings. It. has g
frontage Of nearly $50 feet on Penn
sylva1ia avenue and a similar one on
! Sixth street.