Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-03
HOME FOR THE BAR.
ms HARRlsoNs PROPOSITION TO
PURCHASE THE MARSHALL HOUSE.
The Ancient building sn'taoie ''''e '''
visiting Attorneys to Drop In--H''tors
Of the Mansion.


sour state Bar Association meets once
a year at some popular resort WHICH
meetings are conducive to the pleasure
and profit of our profession, but for the
rest of the year 1t does ntue ana GER
talnly lacks integrity Of organization anu
efficiency OF influence. l did not suggest
that these annual meetings should be held
AT the Marshall house. IL seems to me
that II the association could establish per-
manent quarters In Richmond, where II
could preserve much from the past MS
tory OF the profession that IL fast passing
into oblivion, and at the same time oiIer
10 all lawyers in the State home In
Richmond to which they might resort
whenever they desired 20 receive the bene-
fits OF having the influence OF the dead
leaders OF the bar presented 70 them. as
well as to enjoy opportunities or getting
from a library open to them at all times
of the day whatever they might need, and
| Of intercourse with other lawyers who
would resort TO this house, much good
would result, and the Bar Association re-
ceive a recognition 1t now deserves but
| has not.
MORE THAN A SOCIAL CLUB.
AT the same time the Richmond Bar
Association would have the same quarters
and become something more than social
club OF lawyers meeting chiefly for de-
| lightful social intercourse, and finding It.
self held together precariously by younger
members Of the profession, while the older
lawyers apparently hold themselves apart
from active interest in its work.
AS to the purchase Of the Marshall
| house. | do not know that It is for sale.
| believe Chief-Justice Marshalrs descend
ants occupy and own it still 1t struck
me that they would be pleased TO have II
| pass into the hands of the bar of this
| State, Of which he was the greatest orna-
ment, and to-day is the motel to which
we might all aspire. 10 should be pre-
| served just as # Is and thus link the
past ever to the present.
WITHOUT FORCE
objection has been made that the Local
| tlon is undesirable, being In the OH part
Of the city and not where the attractions
be- likely TO make It a more popular resort.
l must say that this objection seems 10
me without force Our object should be-
10 make such a home as would welcome
those members Of our profession who
| would prefer to resort thither for mental
and moral benefit and stimulus. where
they would find every desirable facility FOR
improving their minds, and every induce
ment to learn and profit by the ilustrious
examples Of the immortal great lawyers
OF former generations
Il spoke extempore, and even now leave
much unsaid which my awakened interest
in a fascinating theme prompts me 30 eN-
press, but trust the idea may attract
| such attention as to bear fruit in some
| form"
HISTORY OF THE HOUSE.
The Marshall house belongs 10 the grand.
| daughters OF Chief Justice Marshall n
| is not I'm the market, bat tho Dispatch is
| In position to state that the owner,
would consider fair offer for Il for the
purposes mentioned. II L. one OF the most
comfortable homes in the city. and all of
its interior arrangements are suggestiV-
OF 10 ROllen Oluen time.
| The Marshall house is. situated on the
| northwest corner OF Ninth and Marshall
streets. and was built by Chief-Justico
| John Marshall. II was Insured land has
| so remained TO date IN the Mutual A.
suranca Society OF Virginia. In the year
| 1885 As that society was Incorporated
| in the year 1874 and was very populli
| from the start. II Is possible that The
house was insured as soon as it wa,
| completed When the site was purchased
! cannot be told. az the title-deeds wer,
| destroyed I'm the great cOuiiagration ol
| 1865, along with so many other munlmcnts
Of title to city property.
Judge Marshall occupied the premises
| until 1898. when he died lie devised IA,
house and one half the square on which
II stands TO his only daughter
Mary. and her husband. the lat,
| General Jacquelin b. Haryie ion
| their lives. and then 10 their children
| into whose possession II fell on the dsati
| Of General Harvie. the surviving parent
In 1888 Two of these children still own IL
50 that It has not changed hands since
the original purchase by their ancestors
THE HARVIES.
When Judge Marshall died General Tlar
vie was residing IN his own home, $40 east
Clay street. built by himself In 1915, and
on General Harvie's death his heirs sold
that house and removed 10 the other
where they remained until september, 1865
| From that time the house was again
rented out until September, 1885, wher
the owners resumed. and still hold posses
sion OF Il.
Up to the time Of Judge Marshalr'
death. the entire square, bounded by Mar
shall and Ninth. and Clay and Eighth
4 NNa..
/ and contained u garden and orchard. not
an uncommon thing in those days OF
ample room. At his death II was equally
divided by n line running from Marshal
to Clay street. and houses began to bs
built on the northern portion.
SPLENDIDLY BUILT.
The house. is remarkably well built
An expert in such matters went not yer.
long ago on the top 10 repair the chin
neys, and reported that he had neve
I'm his life seen as substantial frame
work as that which supported the root
Plain as is its exterior. the rooms am
staircase are very handsome. All IN
rooms OF the lower floor are wainscoate'
10 the chalrboard, and the ends occupies
| by the chimneys are wainscOated TO tn
ceiling. with old-fashioned wooden man
tel-pleces, the whole handsomely cornice'
with wood. and the windows are heaytll
framed and finished with insde-recesse'
blinds, handsomely panelled.
! The opposite house, 8l7 Marshall street
Is sometimes COMPOUNDED with this one
That house was built by Judge Marshal
at a later date for one OF his sons, VIII
never occupied II, and II was devised 4
his daughter, Mrs. Harvie. The onl
thing at all noteworthy about Il Is tina
il was occupied by Governor James Bar
bour in lsll-'12. whilst tho present guber
Material mansion was In course OF con
struction.
no IMMEDIATE ACTION.
1t Is not expected that any action Wi
be taken looking to the carrying out o
Mr.. Harrsons suggestion until the an
nual meeting Of the State Bar Associa
ton next summer. A prominent iawye
said to Dispatch reporter yesterday tina
he thought the scheme entirely practice
bic and believed that there were man
members of the State Bar Association
who would be glad 10 contribute fror
500 10 500 towards a fund for the pur
chase OF the property. and that man
others would cheerfully contribute small
err amounts.
| NNua GOTTA rnAI