Fairfield's oldest building torn down

DICKEY, TEAS, DAVID

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/26/2006 at 22:30:59

"Fairfield Tribune", May 5, 1881, Pg. 3, Col. 3

ANOTHER OLD LANDMARK PASSED AWAY -- Last week witnessed the tearing away of the oldest building in the city, and one of the very first ever erected here. It stood on First Street West, one half block north of the square, and was built by Thomas DICKEY in June, 1839. It was erected for a hotel and was so used for some time. The building material was logs; it was one story high, contained one room, a shed kitchen on the first floor, and a low attic above, where at times from 15 to 20 persons lodged at night. The lodgers reached the chamber by an elevator we called in those days a ladder, and then on all fours sought their respective beds on a shake down on the floor, no high bedsteads being allowed.

This building was abandoned for hotel purposes after Mr. DICKEY had built a more commodious house on the North side of the square, which was dignified by the name of "National Hotel". The old landmark was sold to Maj. TEAS who added a frame addition to the north, weather-boarded the whole concern, put a veranda in front, making it appear in that early day the most tony house in town. But times have changed, "Old things are passing away, behold all things are becoming new", or something to that effect.... Chas. DAVID is the only one of our citizens who can claim the honor of being one of the 15 or 20 who occupied that upper chamber as a regular lodger.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.