Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-15
THE DAVIS MANSION.
peOpOslTlON THAT IT De CONVERT
80 INTOACONFEDeRATE ME-
MORTAL HALL.
,,o,erent 10 that Ind Instituted by the
Ladies' Hollywood Association-A
Museum Fart of the Plan.

Mlfl the Soni norm capltal was moved
f,.o Montgomery TO Richmond this pro-
,c-t, vas purchased by the city from Dlr
i,V,. ID. Cfcnshaw and was rendered to
Nr paws As 4 free gift.
As such he declined 30 receive IT, He
vosr.t a prcscnt-rcceiving President. He.
h,Wc,cr. agreed 90 occupy II. and did so;
erf fhe Confederate Government, ~ IN
dut bound. paid the rent.
After the evacuation tho house was used
8. hcalouaricrs bv Generals Ord. Candy.
Scladeld and others who in turn cOm-
,,l.fe4 this military district When Viz
-r., vls restored 20 tho Mon tho city re-
rtrcd possession of the property. and the
mansion. kitchen. md stable were al utl-
iz.a a- rooms for public schools. II Is do
inctlat service now; but IT Is not suitable
therefor.
VOTED Down.
member Of the School Board recently
proposed that the building be torn down
and a new school house erected IN its
place. W that u be remodoNed and en-
Ava,c Of public disapprobationd drowned
thr suggestion.
The voice of the people WAS that the pro-
pcr'y should be preserved free from nm
proving hands.
Now comes a better -uggcstion VIZ,
TINT the house bee converted into a memo
rl lall and museum for the collection
nrd preservation Of Confederate war relies.
10 This end u conference of the ladies of
the Hollywood Memorial Association was
Yesterday hcld with the Mavor IN the lat
tors office. The ladies present were Mrs.
Joseph BRYAN. Miss Crcnshaw. Mrs. James
Thomas. Mrs. Truman A. Parker, and MR..
Judge T.. &. Minor. They were accOmpa-
med by Mr. Joseph BRYAN.
An Outline of the Project
a ia Gte
cuss the following memorial, which Will be
presented TO the CITY Council:
10 Hc Hopora5t Nmb0's n he Cdg Council
of me Cify ~ Hc'mond:
Your petitioners the Ladies' Hollywood
Memorial Association. respectfully repre-
sent unto your honorable body that they
have since soon after the close Of the war
made it their special duty 70 care tor the
Graves Of the Confederate soldiers burned
IN HOLLYWOOD cemetery. and that TINS sa-
cred duty has been chiefly performed with
only such assistance a. has been volunta-
rily given by individuals
MEMORIAL HALL.
In furthcrance Of the desire 20 perpetu-
ate the memory of those who perlshcd m
ihe defence of this city, your petitioners
desire 10 secure as n memorial hall and q
museum of Confederate relics the property
now owned los the city cf Richmond. stu
afed AZ the corner Of Twelfth and Clay
streets. and known as President Dayiss
Mansion
BEiICs or THE HFRoIC DPAD.
They call your attention 10 the fact that
Upuiic uroylsiou has been made by any
national OF State authority, $40 far as they
arc advised and believe. for the proserva-
ton and transmission of any Of those mo
weut0ce # the late war between the
~ftt.. belonging exclusively TO the Con
q. L. nraI 4luf thor. q dancer d
default Of soWe such provision that the
relics If those .pd- of herolsm, which are
alike the her...rc not merely of all the
peoplc of these reunited States, but of all
who admire courage. patriotism, and sell
lonia! wherever found, Will be lost.
III DrA.
The propoeition of your petitioners ~ -
preserve that mansion IN which the ~
.,cufi.c Chief Of the Confederate states
ke,ided during the greater part Of and un-
" the end Of the war, and 10 INVOKE the
fe-slsrauct of all who are Interested III tins
,.ndeavor 80 contribute 10 its support and
20 furnish II with memorials and relics.
Your petitioners believe that TINS VIII
all greatly 20 the historical interest of
this city. and will become one of the most
striking features 90 alt visitors.
WHAT Is DESIRED.
They pray. therefore, that the honorable
Citv Council will take such Stcpsas VIII not
.rlv preserve the Davis mansion from do
.tructiou. but viii dedicate II and appro-
pirate exclusively the use thereof 10 your
petitioners for the purposes above de
scrhcd.
Respectfully submitted on behalf Of the
Ladies Hollywood Memorial Association.
EIINFoRCEMENrs.
NIayor Flly-ou at the request Of the ladies
had invited to the conference toloncI
William T.. Smith, commandnut of *. +.
lee Camp. Colonel T.. L. Reeve, com
muulaut of George f.. Pickett Camp;
Clutun Thomas Elicit, president OF the
pc.r1u battalion. and Mr.. James A. Gen
try. president of the Manchester LHlo''
Gray~' Association.
The memorial was read, and all Of these
gentlemen gave II their hearty assent, ana
VIII bring 10 before then respective organl-
.afIou5.
Nlavor Tllvson promised 20 DO what ne
could toad the LADIES', and the matter VIII
he ~ once pushed.
The Aim ofthe Ladies.
Tho ladies do not ask the city to give
them this property but simply toalloW the
u-raflt. Though they would like TO have
immediate possession, they do not expect
-4tcable 10 obtain that since the building
i- now occupied for pubhc-school pur-
posses. but they would IKE l9I the Wy ~
Council to indicate their willingness 70
grant them the Use Of the property as soon
a- 10 Is cxpcdient 10 Obtain II.
rnoMrsrs or WAR RELICS.
With euch an assurance they feel they
c.un utilize the unvelhng Of the Lee
statue Inn Nav 20 secure promises from
VISITING Confederateso of valuable contriOu-
tons ~ thc museum. IL X for that reason
they are nnNious to obtain the early cX-
preston of the views OF the Council on
this question.
W3th this in view they have prepared
fhc memorial which Will be signed 10y the
.Aicers of the Hollywood Memorial Asso-
c,ation and for which they ask the en-
dor-atiou of the Confederate organizations
30 the city
The pettioue containing the memorial
viii also be- circulated for the signatures
Of citizens.
,Irws or -Hr MAYOR.
Novor Fllvson thinks II would be the
L0-t use to which the mansion could be
uut. lie is sure that such museum would
rrny. a rreat attraction TO visitors and
would be an enduring memorial OF the Con
f-8cratc davs. He Is of the opinion thecltN
nt uo distant day will Toe obliged 10 abah-
don She lOu,e for school purposes and erect
binding. and he therefore heartily APP
proyes its use for a memorial hall and mu-
stlm.
The Granting of this building for the pur-
nose. Indicated will Of course he the INITIAL
step towards the creation OF Sueh mu-
scum. but already many promises OF cOntr-
buttons have been received.
The museum. II established, will include
Confederate relics from all the southern
States. and every effort will he made ior
I. restoration of the original furniture
which President DAVIS used. Much OF tilis
has OF course been lost sight of or de-
,troyed-some by acts Of Federal vand@ic
lsln-but already there are promises OF
Iunuv articles that are IN the possession Oh
friendly hands. ..,
Ihemantels. which are exquisitely carved
and If white marble, have been prohiiseu
- the museum.
ACTIVE MEASURES.
II the Council should decide to grant the
Tho laroe lot al the rear of the
building AS viii be requested of the a.
ha faE