The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-28
CONFEDERATE MUSEUM
THE DAVIS MANSION TO RECEIVS
ITS FORMER APPEARANCE.
II VIII Exactly Resemble tho Time When
Occupied by President Davis ana
His Family.

WSfk is progressing rapidly on the old
Jefrerson Davis marsion on north Twelfth
street, which is being remodelled for tho
ladies Of the Confederate Museum Liter
airy Society with a view OF having II put
back In exactly the same condition, or
at least as nearly as possible. In which
II was at the time of occupancy Dy
President Davis and his family. When
the school board took charge OF 1t
number of partitions were taken out on
each floor for the purpose Of obtaining
class rooms large enough to answer The
pI rpc ses OF the Central School These
partitions are being replaced. and by
the time when the Confederate Museum
is thrown open to the public the interior
OF the building will have almost tho
same appearance as ii did more than
thirty years ago when all eyes OF Nir-
ginia. and. in fact. of the entire South,
were resting on the inmates OF that
structure.
II has been the wish Of the ladies who
are now In charge OF the bull ling. 10
make the same as nearly frc-proof as
possible so that the danger of having
the treasures TO be conserved in the
various rooms destroyed by flames might
"a
being carried out In every respect by Mr.
Henry T.. G. Baskerville. who superintends
the renovation OF the building. All or
tho wooden flooring of tho first and sec
ond stories has been removed and iron
beams have been put I'm its place. which
will be connected by terra Gotta arches.
This new flooring will he constructed In
the same manner as In the CITY Han.
and the arches VIII be leyellcd up with
concrete and granolithic floors ana a
similar floor will be laid in the base
mcnt.
EEMoDELLED IN rRoS.
The old doors and door trimmings wiz
be put back. and this viii be the only
wood work that is to be found I'm the
basement and the next two stories. Tho
wooden stairways have been taken out.
and their places will be taken by iron
ones which. however. will be an exact
reproduction of the old ones In cast
iron. The back and side porches, which
were constructed of wood. will be re-
modelled in the same manner as the
floors.
The third floor will be thoroughly re-
paired and put In flrst-class order. put
II will not be made ire-proof at this
time. The same is to be said about the
roof. but It's old wooden cornices Will
be replaced by galvanized iron. and the
same material IL TO be used for the VEN
tilator on the top OF the building The
old stucco on the entire outside OF tho
building has been Clipped OF and the
walls will be restuccoed. while the plas-
terng of the interior will also be re-
newed Casts have been taken OF many
of the old ornaments and cornces. which
will be reproduced as nearly as posi-
BILE
The entire building will lie heated by
steam, and the boiler will be located m
der the back porch so as to remove
every possible chance OF fire from the
interior of the building. All the old
plumbing fixtures VIII be replaced by
modern ones. In order TO make the iani.
tary arrangements perfect.
TO REPRODUCE THE OLD ROOMS.
Great care has been taken to reproduce
the building as IL was when occupied
by President Davis and his family, and
careful measurements have been made OF
the entire building. There will be five
rooms on the third floor. four on the
| second four on the first, and 1--WE I'm
| the basement: all will be used for mu-
scum purposes. and II is the Intention to
set aside one room for each southern
State. but the selection has not yet been
| made The Tredegar Works are FUR
nishing all the ironwOrk with the exc'p-
ton of the iron beams. whCh are inn
ported from the work and the contractor
| who is remodelhng the building under the
| supervision and after the plans drawn by
| Mr. Baskerville Is Mr. Newton T.. An
carrow. Under the contract the building
| is TO be completed by November 10Th.
| and its cost is estimated al sl3,510
| When Mrs. Davis was visiting Richmond
| the last time she went all through the
| building and pointed out the rooms as
| they were used during their occupancy.
| on the third floor, the room I'm the north
| east corner was occupied by Miss VIM
| ME DAVIS while the others were set
! aside for visitors and other purposes.
| on the second floor was the nursery, in
the room al the east end. while the mid
/ die room served as Mr.. Davis private
Office The room in the southwest cor
ner was Mrs. Davis bed chamber. and
the one in the northwest corner was her
| dressing room.
THE PIRsr FLOOR.
| On the first floor was found the dining
room in the east end Of the building. and
| the middle room back OF the large en-
| trance hall. as well as the room in the
| southwest corner. were drawing-rooms,
| while the one near the stairway hall In
| the northwest corner was the reception-
| room. The room IN the southeast corner
| of the basement served as dining-room
| for the children. and the one IN the
! sOuthwest-cOrner was used as breakfast
room The other rooms served .Or sfor-
age and fuel rooms. The Kitchen "as
located in separate building.