Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-01
ALLAN MANSION SOLD
HOME OF THE MAN FOR WHOM THE
POET WAS NAMED.
The Buiiding to BE Torn Down ana the
Splendid Site Cleared--Lots Not
Disposed OF.

Tho OLD Allan house, which has stood
for nearly three quarters of century
upon the spacious lot at the southeast
corner Of Main and Fifth streets, was
sold at public auction yesterday after
noon at 4:30 O'Clock by Messrs. John
Thompson Brown & Co.
Upon the site OF this venerable land
mark number of handsome stores will
probably Be erected at no distant date.
Quite number of persons were pres
ent at the sale. The eleven building lots
into which the commanding site had
been subdiviGed were also announced
to be sold.
ONLY TIE BUILDING GOES.
The purchaser OF the mansion and
other improvements, including stables,
was Mr.. j. l.. Taliaferro, and tho price
paid for them was $3.50. He will COM
mence the work of pulling down the
old house and other small buildings
almost Immediately. and expects to have
the ground cleared in about thirty days.
The ground was offered as a whole,
but the bid not reaching the limit it was
taken down by the auctioneer. and it
will be held privately for the present. Ii
not sold, it will be offered again after
being cleared of. The property belongs
to the Masonic Temple Association, and
by singular coincidence all of the
members OF the Property Committee
who directed the sale were IN Roanoke
attending the Grand Commandery Of
Knights Templar.
This property had been frequently
suggested as an excellent site for an
uptown hotel, and few years ago it was
purchased by tho Masonic Temple Asso-
tion, who at one time thought OF erecting
their temple upon it.
ONLY VISITED THIS PLACE.
The Allan house was for long time
owned and occupied by Mr.. Allan, who
adopted Edgar Allan Poe and after whom
the youth was named Edgar Allan Poe
1t is lot true, however, as is generally
supposed, that Poe passed any consider
able part of his life at this place. When
he was living in the family of Mr.. Allan
that gentleman resided in large frame
building which occupied the lot on the
east side of Fifth street between Mar
shall and Clay.
After MIR. Allan married the second
time he bought the house on the corner
OF Fifth and Main streets and moved
there.
The late John T. Allan very distinctly
remembered seeing Allan Poe visit this
place, but his visit was very short one
probably less than on hour.
DR.. Creed II. Davis, who went to
school at Burke's Academy with Poe
and was Poe's playmate for years
and years, confirms the statement that
during Poe's residence with Mr. Allan
Mr.. Allan's home was, as before stated,
on Fifth street between Marshall and
Clay.
HISTORY OF THE BUILDING.
The Allan house was built early in tho
present century and was occupied first
by David NJ. Randolph, aud after being
purchased by Mr. Allan was enlarged and
remodelled into its present shape. The
widow Of Mr.. Alan lived there until
about eight or ten years ago, when she
died, since which time the house ha:
been in possession of several tenants.
In 1851, il then being unoccupied, the
Committee of Arrangements for the en-
tertainment of the French and German
visitors who were here at the celebration
of the unveiling of the statue at York
town obtained the house and had bal
there, at which all Of the French anC
German notabilities were present, in
cluding the now celebrated Genera
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