By Danny Crownover
One of the earliest hotels in Gadsden was the King Hotel on Fourth Street — located just south of Broad and Chestnut, on Fourth Street’s west side. It was between the Herzberg corner and Chestnut and Fourth — and it was part of one of the most unusual set-ups of the frontier period of this city.
The typical two-story white building — with porches to extend its full length — was operated by William King.
In the 1870s, it was a popular place for drummers and visitors. Across the street, where the McClesky Bros. plant was located, was the King Livery Stable, which fronted on Fourth Street.
A large oil lantern was suspended from the second-story porch to the stable’s roof, on the side of which were the words “King Hotel.” The other side of the lantern read “King Livery Stables.”
On Broad Street — where the Gadsden Hardware Store was located — was the King Saloon. This saloon was run by Joe King, son of William, and it was housed in a stone building. The bar was semi-circular and bowed out from the rear to the front.
In the rear was a two-story wooden structure, with the ground floor being used for a bowling alley and the second story for roulette and other gambling machines.
A high board fence enclosed the area behind the saloon from the hotel along Chestnut Street to within 75 or 100 feet from the old Kyle Realty offices — or up to the residences of I. M. Stephens, who managed a drug store next door to the saloon. It later became the Cottle Drug Store.
The fenced in area was the scene of many chicken fights, horse trades and occasionally a man-to-man fist fight to the finish.
Many barbecues and feasts of that kind were held there, and they were attended by practically everybody.
One of those community barbecues in 1879 was a stag affair, but the women and children were parked in nearby homes and were served bountiful trays. That was the first and only time that many had ever tasted barbecued link sausage.
In one corner of the lot was a brick bake oven, and it was used frequently.
Joe King resided in a big, two-story white house just west of Fourth and Chestnut Streets.
The hotel was torn down in the 1880s after a fire in 1883 destroyed his saloon.
Joe set up a bar in the neighborhood of the Coosa Furnace quarters with a signboard reading, “First and last chance.”
After the fire, the picture changed somewhat, but that vacant spot on Chestnut between Fourth and Fifth retained its reputation to a large degree.
