John Kirk kept a tavern about the beginning of the present century in a house that stood on Wheeling street, west of Main. This house was painted red and penciled to imitate brick. After Kirk left it William Wilson became its proprietor. He was known as "Center Billy." He did not find tavern keeping sufficiently profitable, and quitting the business, turned his attention to blacksmithing and wagon making. The old name of Wheeling street was "Belle," and the present name was given it by the old stage drivers and wagoners, because it intersected the old road leading to Wheeling. The "Indian Queen" was an old and well remembered tavern on Main street, opposite the court house. It was opened in 1808 by John McCluny. In 1815 it changed its location and solicited public patronage on Main street, above Chestnut, where Justice Donehoe's residence now is, under the auspices of its old founder, John McCluny aforesaid. In its new location it became the headquarters of the Jackson Democracy. This house was kept by Thomas Officer, and was known as the "Green Tree," before McCluny placed it under the shield of the "Indian Queen." It was afterward occupied by John Johnson, who kept it for a number of years, and it ceased to do business as a tavern during his occupancy. About the year 1820 John Manuel kept a tavern in a white frame house on the west side of Main street, immediately below the present depot of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. There was an old tavern in Washington at an early day kept by Jacob Moler, and known as "The Mermaid." It was located on the south side of West Wheeling street, and on the lot now owned by Charles Driehorst. It was the headquarters of the Hibernians, and while it did not aspire to rival the "Globe" or the "Rising Sun," it was not lacking in patronage. It does not appear to have been continued as a tavern after the time of Moler.