The History of Tuscaloosa VUi. Joshua JIalpebt, This gentleman was the first hotel- Keeper in Tuscaloosa. As oetoro eta-ted, be built a clap-board hotel on the Motester lot, in 181(3, and subsequently erected a more pretentious edifice near Dy,wmcu was tong Known as "tne yellow house." HiB son, Lucius Hal-bert, was the first white male child born in our city. Dis birth occur' rod in the Bummer of 1810. He grew up to uo quite a promising young man and after marrylne Miss Shortridco, of this city, made his future home in Mississippi.
' . ... . ' Beuben'Davis. a distinnuished law yer of Mississippi, married a daughter of Jbshna Halbert, nnd the happy.
coupie maue tneir "onaai tour" across the country on horse back,1 Mr. Bal-bert was the uncle of Mrs. Francis Jjugbeo, of Montgomery, and a gentle1 man or intelligence ana Dusiness en terprise; He moved from TuscalooBa to New Lexington, this County, and near thoro Bottled what ia sow known as the "Boone mace." Tho hotols form important links in the historic chain of Tuscaloosa. In frontier towns, all exciting occurrerr- ccs, public nnd private, are focalize.d at ftho tavern," where the shadows of bloody deeds, and the traditions of memorable events linger for 'ages. .
The. tavern which Sam Taylor built of clap-boards, in the rear of the present "Bee-Bive. Corner,'': and the one Which Thomas Lovell nreslded over oil passeu irom me memory oruvipg men; but wen'ientioa;th'at;plipfe shot and wounded a. Choctaw Chief in tho ' former; that Cox & Hbgan. oo- cupieu trie latter as a Btore-nouso, ana that Maulv Files, and William Sti:onsr, both larse stock raises and estimable citizens, supplied each 'with such beef as cannot be had now-a-aays; suim-bering recollections will be awakened in the silent chambers of memory, and our oldest citizens wui see tne log-taverns acain.
in thoir mind's eve. - No one knows the suoti near the City scales, whore Lewiu's clap-board tavern- stood ; and yet it was a merry-place in the olden times, The wits, of tho villaee catberod there to "crack then- jokes" and sip their "taffoy rum j". the Indians 'from across' the river played their games of ball on the plateau to the East; and the young men moasured thoir strength of arm, and tested their fleotness ot toot near oy,. Davis' hotel was situated near what is now known as tho "brick row," and Davis was. the most notorious of the early citizens, and his house tho most notorious of taverns.
' These clap-board ehanties WetO'tho primitive hotels in Tuscaloosa, and each lias its romances nnd its thrilling reminisconses. But thoir timbers have decayed : their walls have crumbled iuto dust : thoir romances have be come legouds, and their tragedies traditions. Soon tho link that binds ancient with modem Tuscaloosa will bo broken, and the recollections that hang around tho tnvorns and ehnntics that existed hereabouts, from 1816 to 1823, will bo laid to rest in the mystic shades vrhich hover arouna tho In dian mounds surrounding onr city. A. B.
McEAomu. (To be Continued.).
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