Lynch and his sons were experienced horsemen and began to develop a successful livery business as hack drivers to politicians, socialites and businessmen. In those early years the Wormley family earned its livelihood from one of the only pursuits available to free blacks: personal service to the burgeoning community of white residents of Washington. Such a document was necessary at that time for any free black to be in business within the District. James Wormley's parents arrived in the District of Columbia about 1815, at which time James's father Lynch engaged the services of the prominent lawyer Francis Scott Key to sue Smith Cocke for his certificate of freedom. From the humble beginnings of an African American family which had lived and worked in the White House neighborhood since the earliest years of the century, the hotel's founder, James Wormley, developed an internationally renowned hospitality business catering to the most prominent visitors and residents of the capital. Originally the area was known as the President's Square and just a block from the northeast corner of this common stood an establishment known as Wormley's Hotel, probably the most successful private enterprise of its time in that area. Lafayette Square in the 19th century was the epicenter of political, social and civic activity in Washington, D.C.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |