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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 213
really refreshing to see lettuce, radishes, etc., when the ground Avas still
covered with snow. These vegetables came from Cincinnati.
In 1853 the Veranda Hotel was called the Pavilion Hotel and was
run by E. J. Jack. Colt's Exchange had become the St. Lawrence Hotel,
and the Bay City Hotel Avas on Wayne Street. The West House was in
process of erection and stood for a long time with the roof on but without
doors or windows. Two wags one Sunday morning fastened a placard
on the walls, "This house open to the public."
The ToAvnsend Hotel Avas now knoAvn as the Mississippi Hotel.
In 1855 the city had twelve hotels. In June, 1864, the Townsend
House AA'as burned Avhile still under the proprietorship of Colonel Colt.
In 1880 the Sloane House Avas built, and since that time, together with
the West House, has been the leading hotel of the city until the 1st of
May, 1912, when the Riegger Hotel opened, and, because of the closing
of the West House, has divided the business Avith the Sloane House, both
of Avhich hotels are a credit to the city.
MARKET PLACES
This is perhaps the most appropriate manner of designating these
tAvo localities, for should they be called "The Markets." The presumption
Avould at once arise that the city Avas possessed of such places wherein
Avas transacted business incident to market places in general, but such
seems not now to be the case; that is, so far as this city is concerned.
It will be remembered that the proprietors, Wildman, Mills and
Hoadley, in their plat of the city made in the year 1818, mentioned two
separate parcels which they dedicated to the prospective city in the
Avords folloAving: "The two open spaces on Market street, marked BB,
are appropriated as and for Public Market grounds, and forever to
remain for that purpose and for no other."
In due course of time the city, or as it then was, toAvn, became sufficiently
large to warrant the erection of buildings for the purpose indicated
in the dedication. The first record mention of official action in
this direction by the authorities o*f the toAvn AA-as made in the year 1835,
and thereafter the buildings Avere erected by citizens of the toAvn. They
AA-ere frame structures, one story in height, with a projecting roof, and
in dimensions about 30 by 50 feet. Each lot Avas provided with a market
house, and it Avas not until about 1870 that they Avere removed. A solitary
hay scale then marked the spot Avhere for many years stood Avhat
Avas knoAvn as the East Market; while on the other site stood a substantial
stone building erected for the express purpose of a "market house,"
but a later idea seemed inclined to make the building useful for an additional
purpose, notwithstanding the clear language of the dedication.
The proposition to use this site for a city hall went before the people
for determination but it Avas defeated overAvhelmingly.
A subsequent council, however, submitted to the people a proposition
to erect a market house on the lot, and that was carried, As was provided,
this was to be a one-story building, 40 by 200 feet in size; but