Earl’s Coffee House was built in 1807, and was located at No. 24 Hanover street, upon the site, in part, of the present American House.  It was kept by Hezekiah Earl, and was the head-quarters of the New York, Albany, and other stage lines.

Wilde’s Tavern was built in the same year, and was located on the north-east corner of (new) Washington and Elm streets.  It was demolished in 1874 to make room for the Washington-street extension.

Doolittle’s City Tavern was also built in 1807, and stood on the north-west corner of (new) Washington and Brattle streets.  It was the head-quarters of the Providence line of stages.  It was demolished in 1874 to make room for the improvement before alluded to.

The Exchange Coffee House was built in 1808, and stood on Congress street, upon the site of the present Howard Bank building, and at the time of its erection was the largest house of public entertainment in the United States.  It extended through to Devonshire street, with an entrance on State street.  It bounded 132 feet on Congress street, with a depth of 94 feet and upwards.  It covered an area of 12,753 square feet, was seven stories in height, surmounted with a dome 101 feet in diameter.  It had 210 apartments.  Its erection was begun in 1805, and occupied two and a half years in construction.  Commodore Hull, after capturing the Guerriere in 1812, had a public dinner given him there.  The Grand Lodge of Freemasons, and some subordinate lodges, had their head-quarters there.  The Scots’ Charitable Society frequently held its meetings there.  It was destroyed by fire in 1818, rebuilt in 1822, with contracted dimensions, and in 1853 was demolished to give place to the City Exchange on Congress square and Devonshire street.  James Wilson, the last of the town-criers, had his office in the Bell-in-Hand Tavern in the basement.  At the time of the fire Hon. Henry Clay was a guest in the house, and worked bravely at the engine brakes.  Hon. David Crockett, a famous member of Congress from Tennessee, lodged there during his visit to Boston in 1834.  He addressed an audience from the eastern portico of the Old State House, and in expatiating upon the prospects of the country, predicted that it would extend within a score of years from the Atlantic to the “Specific.”  Among his witty sayings will be remembered,—­“Be sure you’re right then go ahead.”  He died in 1841, fighting for Texan independence.  It was kept in former days by Col.  James Hamilton, afterwards by William Gallagher, Hart Davenport, and lastly by McGill & Fearing.

Washington Hotel was built in 1809, and stood in Bromfield street.  It subsequently took the name of Indian Queen, and latterly Bromfield House.  Selden Crockett was its last landlord.  It ceased to be a public house about a dozen years since.

The Elm Street Hotel was built in 1812, and stood on the north-west corner of (new) Washington and (No. 9) Elm streets.  It was kept by Hart Davenport.  Its yard was obliterated in 1874 to make room for the Washington-street extension, and the building in 1882 for a site for commercial purposes.