Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-29
WANT THE H0USET00
CHICAGO PARTIES WRITE TO BUY
THE JEFF. DAVIS MANSION.
willing TO Build q Museum In Exchange
for the Old Materiai-History
OF tho Nanteis.

Mrs. J. Taylor Ellyson. chairman OF the
Relic COMMITTEES Of the Confederate Me-
mortal and Literary Association, received
the following letter yesterday. which
shows that tae Chicago EceHinJ Post was
correct in saying that there was move
ment or foot there TO purchase the Jetf.
Davis Mansion and move ii to that city ior
exhibition purposes;
GREAT NORTHERN UOTEf-l
CHICAGO, April p, 1888. !
Nrs. J. Taylor Elvson, Rich m0Hd. Va;
Dear Madam.-I understand that the ladies Of
Virginia have undertaken q transform the Jeh
DAVIS mansion INTO museum. should you
wish 20 dispose OF this property our company
viii arrange TO build you a suitable house on the
present site OF tue Jen Davis mansion and We
will pay you the Assessed value OF the property
removing nothing except what the mansion ~
composed Of and Will also make q suitable do
nation 20 assist In starting this southern mu-
scum. should be- very glad 30 hear from you,
or please advise and We will have parties call on
you IN regard 20 this matter.
Yours very respectfully. y. +. N0rLAW.
WILL NOT SELL.
Mrs. Ellyson has not yet had an oppor-
tunIty TO submit the letter 10 the associa-
tlon, but Is of opinion that the ladies
would not consider any proposition that
could be made for the sale Of the Davis
Mansion and its removal to Chicago.
This property was recently given to the
association by the city Of Rlchmond 10 be
used as a museum In which 10 collect and
display relics OF the COnfederacy. he
sentiment of the community, the wishes
of the city authorities. and above all the
feelings of the ladies' are decidedly averse
to putting the white House of the Con-
federacy' TO any other use than that for
which IL IL now intended. A portion OF
the money realized from the bazaar now
in progress here will be used to fit up the
building and prepare for the opening OF
the museum. For this and this only Will
the jeff. Davis mansion be used IN future.
THE OLD MANrELs.
As was stated in the DIsPArCH Of yester-
dav, several persons are also negotiating
with Mr.. William B. WaldrOn for the man
tells which formerly adorned the White
House of the Confederacy but are now at
ms residence. No. 1913 east Marshall street.
Tie house in which Mr.. Waldon resides
was butt about twenty-five years ago by
Mr.. William X. Watts. The -bellnm
history of the mautels has little that - re-
markable or unusual IN It. When the war
ended the Dayis mansion was IN Dos
session of the Federal authorities. and SO
remained during the entire reconstruction
period. In 1871 1t was 0gain turned over
10 the city authorities, who determined to
Use IL for q school building. There were q
few articles IN the house which were
deemed useless rs far AZ school purposes
were copcerned. and among thcs" were
two bronze chandeliers and the mantels
in question. The latter were removed to
make way for tho heating apparatus, and
were sold for $500 to Mr.. Watts, VINO had
them placed IN his own residence. They
have remained there up 10 the present
time. and are IN an excellent state OF pre-
seTyatlOn.
WHY THEY WE'RE SOLD.
A well-known gentleman Of this city who
was connected with the municipal gov
erument IN 1871 vouches for the above. as
II was through his negotiations that the
sale OF the mantels TO Mr.. Watts was ef-
fected This gentleman bought the chan
deIiers above alluded TO and has several
other relics Of tr,c-d-brdc, etc. which lOr-
merly adorned the residence If Mr.. Davis.
Three months before the evacuation. when
the President Of the COnfederacy realized
that Il was unsafe for hlm to allow his
family to remain in Richmond. he had an
auction sale Of many ot the az
ticles in his house. Among the things
disposed of was u,Agnlhcen. pair OF ia
panese vases, about thirty inches high,
which were purchased By the gentleman
! who bought the chandelier. These vases.
which aside from their historic value, are
/ worth considerable sum Of money. are
/ still in Richmond.
! Mr.. NalGrOn, tho owner of the mantols.
/ does not appear 10 be at all anxious 10 sell
them. He says he will not dispose Of them
unless he can get big sum of money
/ e25,000.