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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 179
everywhere else; and that all our wants were, in general, zealously
anticipated.
"We were taking an early dinner at this house, on the day after
our arrival, which was Sunday, when a steamboat came in sight, and
presently touched at the wharf. As she proved to be on her way to
Buffalo, we hurried on board with all speed, and soon left Sandusky far
-behind us."
The hotel, still standing, at which Charles Dickens stopped at his first
visit here in 1842 was the old Wayne Hotel, which then stood at the
southeast corner of Wayne and Water streets, where Voltaire Scott later
kept a hotel.
On the southwest corner of Wayne and Water streets the Verandah
Hotel had then been built some years and was originally called the Steamboat
Hotel, and the old Strap Railroad ran east on Water Street to
Wayne Street directly in front of the Verandah Hotel. At this time
there Avere no buildings betAveen the Verandah Hotel and the bay, and
Water Street was the most northern street of the city, and Avhen the
waves Avere high the water broke over the rails of the railroad. Railroad
Street Avas later designed after the bay had been filled in.
In 1842 the Verandah Hotel Avas kept by Charles Rude, Avhom Dickens
described above. R. B. Hubbard used to mention talking with Dickens
on that visit, and William T. West, Avho built the West House, used to
tell the story that the people of Sandusky gave Dickens a banquet to
which he accepted an invitation, but at the proper time did not come
doAvn but sent his valet down in his place.
In a letter dated at Sandusky, Sunday, April 24, 1842, Dickens says:
"We reached Sandusky at six o'clock yesterday afternoon. It is on
Lake Erie, 24 hours' journey by steamboat from Buffalo. We found no
boat here nor has there been one since. We are waiting Avith everything
packed up ready to start on the shortest notice. * * * We are in a
small house here but a very comfortable one, and the people are exceedingly
obliging. Their demeanor in these country parts is invariably
morose, sullen, cloAvnish and repulsive. I should think that there is not
on the face of the earth a people so entirely destitute of humor, vivacity
or the capacity of enjoyment. It is most remarkable. Lounging listlessly
about idling in bar-rooms, smoking, spitting and lolling on the
pavement in rocking chairs outside the shop doors, are the only recreations.
Our landlord is from the East. He is a handsome, obliging, civil
felloAv. He comes into the room with his hat on, spits in the fireplace
as he talks, sits doAvn on the sofa with his hat on, pulls out his neAVspaper
and reads, but to all that I am accustomed. He is anxious to please
and that's enough."
The Wayne Hotel Avas then called Colt's Exchange and the proprietor
described by Dickens Avas Col. R. E. Colt, an Eastern man. Mr. L. D.
Anthony says he met Dickens and he had the second floor room in the
nortlnvest corner and he noAV has in his possession a cherry table that
was then in that room and later bought by him from Colonel Colt.
The housekeeper referred to by Dickens Avas probably the Avife of