The Old Chester Spirit

When John Chester bought the pool-and-billiard room on Main Street in Hobart, he bought the business only, not the building in which it was housed. That remained the property of Mrs. Libbie Watson.

John got into some kind of dispute with his landlady. On August 24, 1915, he arrived at the pool hall to open up for business as usual — and found the front door padlocked. He must have spent some time fussing and fuming, for a good-sized crowd soon collected in Main Street to witness the fun. Eventually John decided to take the matter into his own hands: he got hold of a pair of pliers and started prying at the padlock. He had managed to yank it off the door by the time Libbie Watson showed up. Words were exchanged as Libbie tried to bar John from entering the pool hall, and somebody sent for Marshal Fred Rose.

After hearing both sides of the story, the Marshal decided to let John open up his pool hall. I expect that if I ever find the justice of the peace's docket book from 1915, I will find Libbie's suit against John soon afterwards.

But honestly, it was almost like having Henry back again. How I miss him! — and Jerome, too.


Source: "Personal and Local Mention." Hobart News 26 Aug. 1915.