The Bay State Monthly — Volume 2, No. 2, November, 1884Various
History
The Bay State Monthly — Volume 2, No. 2, November, 1884
Various
Massachusetts -- Periodicals; New England -- Periodicals
Doolittle's City Tavern was also built in 1807, and stood on the
north-west corner of (new) Washington and Brattle streets. It was the
head-quarters of the Providence line of stages. It was demolished in
1874 to make room for the improvement before alluded to.
The Exchange Coffee House was built in 1808, and stood on Congress
street, upon the site of the present Howard Bank building, and at the
time of its erection was the largest house of public entertainment in
the United States. It extended through to Devonshire street, with an
entrance on State street. It bounded 132 feet on Congress street, with a
depth of 94 feet and upwards. It covered an area of 12,753 square feet,
was seven stories in height, surmounted with a dome 101 feet in
diameter. It had 210 apartments. Its erection was begun in 1805, and
occupied two and a half years in construction. Commodore Hull, after
capturing the _Guerrière_ in 1812, had a public dinner given him there.
The Grand Lodge of Freemasons, and some subordinate lodges, had their
head-quarters there. The Scots' Charitable Society frequently held its
meetings there. It was destroyed by fire in 1818, rebuilt in 1822, with
contracted dimensions, and in 1853 was demolished to give place to the
City Exchange on Congress square and Devonshire street. James Wilson,
the last of the town-criers, had his office in the Bell-in-Hand Tavern
in the basement. At the time of the fire Hon. Henry Clay was a guest in
the house, and worked bravely at the engine brakes. Hon. David Crockett,
a famous member of Congress from Tennessee, lodged there during his
visit to Boston in 1834. He addressed an audience from the eastern
portico of the Old State House, and in expatiating upon the prospects of
the country, predicted that it would extend within a score of years from
the _At_lantic to the "_Spe_cific." Among his witty sayings will be
remembered,--"Be sure you're right then go ahead." He died in 1841,
fighting for Texan independence. It was kept in former days by Col.
James Hamilton, afterwards by William Gallagher, Hart Davenport, and
lastly by McGill & Fearing.
Washington Hotel was built in 1809, and stood in Bromfield street. It
subsequently took the name of Indian Queen, and latterly Bromfield
House. Selden Crockett was its last landlord. It ceased to be a public
house about a dozen years since.
The Elm Street Hotel was built in 1812, and stood on the north-west
corner of (new) Washington and (No. 9) Elm streets. It was kept by Hart
Davenport. Its yard was obliterated in 1874 to make room for the
Washington-street extension, and the building in 1882 for a site for
commercial purposes.
The Massachusetts House was built in 1816, and still stands on the
south-west corner of Endicott and Cross streets. It is a favorite resort
of horse-jockeys and horse-fanciers.
Forster's Coffee House was built in 1817, and stood on the corner of
Court and Howard streets. The Scots' Charitable Society frequently held
its meetings there.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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