Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-18
THE TABERNACLE SITE.
Builders Prices 100 Years Ago-Did Poe
Ever Live at the "AIlan House,"


To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
on the 3Oth of May. 1898, David Meade
Randolph, United States Marshal for Vir-
,inia, who then owned the half-acre iot'
No. 5i5. corner of Sixth and Cary streets,
low occupied by the leaf-tobacco ware
louse of the Allen 81 Ginter Branch vi
he American Tobacco Company con-
rac..d with George Winston for the erec-
ion of a brick residence and stable
.....,a, IN those of William Marshall and
rhor,as rutherford" to be completed by
lst July, 1873. , ,,,ho
,.ae a brother of the Chief-Justice, and
a son-in-law Of Richard Adams. the pro-
prjstor of Church Ill., was In the square
bounded by Twenty-siXth and twenty
seventh. Franklin, and Grace streets that
Of Thomas rutherford was the structure
which was until within the present hoh'n'
the residence of Colonel a. ,. Buloru,
Franklin street, corner OF ADAMS anu
which. after nearly century or interest
ing history under the successive occuPd-
ton of Thomas rutherford, Hon. Jonn
Y. Mason. Samuel rutherford, son OF
Thomas; General II. NJ. Logan, ana Col
onel Buford is now in process or deinoh-
ton TO be succeeded by more pretentious
modern tenements. These were among
the handsomest residences in the vicinity
of Richmond at the close Of the last
century.
randolph agreed to furnish "all plank.
scantling, and imported materials" and
Winston to do and find everything else"
for which Randolph was to furnish Win
ston, on demand. fl00 worth of corn, GU
barrels), go worth of oyster shells, at the
rate of shillings per hogshead, delivered
at Rockets. and fl00 worth Of goods at
the usual cash prices, "i25 worth OF which
shall be wet goods" and TO make payment
OF remainder OF cost by 18th Of December.
1903.
SPECIFIED RATES.
Following are the specified rates at
which the cost Of inc work was TO be
computed: Plain brick WORK, 80 shlllings
per thousand; circular, s.; openings, where
jambs are square, L. shillnSs; lambs,
"splayed," - shiling5; arches o"e.' vim
dows and doors, like William Marshalrs
house." If done. SIS eac1: common iram-
ing, U.s. Cd. per square for hipped roof,
lis. 3d.; common sheeting and shingles,
9s.. but If the plank is "cyphered" to
shinge on, 1Ss. clean "layed" floors, 32s.,
and common floors, los. Cd; inside dental
cornish" %. Cd; "architraves," Is. al.
per foot: facing, window-frames, and
jamb-linings, Is. per foot, making COM
mon windowframes les. each, and "for
such as are in Thomas Rutherfoord's
house." 1888. each; making common stair
case, 60; one like Thomas Rutherfoord's,
f2S; plain chair and washboard, Cd. per
foot. and with Gaping Is. per foot;
lathing and 'plastering," and finding
everything, two coats, 3s per yard: three
coats, 'as in the lower story Of Thomas
Rutherfoord's." IS. sd. per yard; on brick
walls. two coats, 20 pence. and three
coats, rs. per yard; land for everything
TO be done not mentioned, to be in the
same proportion of the prices above men
toned
On the I'd Of July, 1898, John Wickham.
the distinguished lawyer, conveyed TO
Randolph the two half-acre lots. No. $50,
Main street. corner of Fifth, and No. SIG.
Main street, corner of Sixth, which had
been on the 2ith of July. 1898. conveyed to
him by Harry Heth. and on the same
day Randolph and wife, Molly, conveyed
them to trustees to secure final payment
TO George Winston OF the cost of the
buildings to be erected thereon. The re-
lease deed, executed the 18th OF Nav. 1901.
recites the full payment, and on the 9th
OF January, 1904 Randolph paid 100000
Tor lot No. 56i corner Fifth and Cary
streets, TO DIR. James Currie, who had
previously acquired 1t from Nicholas
Cary. and he thus became owner of the
entire block, his residence being located
on the most elevated lot, No. 5S5. corner
Fifth and Main. now owned by the Ma
sonic Temple Association, and at present
occupied by the temporary structure
known as Moody's Tabernacle. the re-
mainder OF this block serving as the gar
den.
This was the "Moldavia" OF Mordecais
Richmond In By-Gone Days" But the
reign here OF Queen Molly" and David
was brief. as II passed, about 1905. into the
possession Of Joseph Gallego the miller,
who resided there for nearly twenty
years, his executor conveying II on the
18th OF June, 1875. to John Allen for
1880.
AS TO EDGAR POE.
Edgar Poe was born at Boston, January
~. iSs' on the second anniversary OF the
birth OF Robert f. Lee. His mother died
at Richmond December g. 1911 n is stated
that at, the time the 3-year-old orphan was
taken into the home OF the chIldless. Mr.
ana MIS-. John Allen. They resided over the
store OF Ellis & Allan. then located on
Fonrteenth street. at the corner Of To-
bacco Alley. where they continued to re-
side until their departure for England. In
lsl5. Upon their return from England. In
is-o. they made their home for some time
Mt the residence OF Charles Ellis. Mr. Al
lan's partner. on the south side OF Frank
lin street between First and second. sub
seQusnuy taking N thair rens1Anoe n .