Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-29
ABOUT OUR MUSEUM.
Interesting Account Of the Transfer Of
the DaYiS Mansion to This Cause.
HISTORY OF THE STRUCTURE.
Was bought from MIR. Lewis ID. Crcn-
shaw During the Nar-Iiow IL he
came the Central school Buiiding.
It's Recent Restoration.


deiphsa Times, writing under date OF
March - 1896. gives the following very
interesting account OF the conversion OF
tho jefferson Davis Mansion into a Con-
federate museum:
A few days ago was seen the completion
OF project Of the greatest interest 10 the
South-namely. the establishment OF a
museum of the Southern confederacy-a
repository Of manuscripts and relies, and
a collection OF objects illustrating the life
If the South in war times. in the old JEFF.
Paws house, in this city, the Executive
Mansion OF the Confederacy. The idea
originated about five years ago among a
body of loyal Richmond women, and
looked merely TO the preservation OF the
old Executive Mansion. which, in ITSELF
is one of the most interesting spots in
this former capital Of the Confederacy
But since the inception OF this idea the
project increased to such proportions that
1t has now assumed a national i'm
portance, and the museum will be Of In
valuable historic interest.
1.-THE JEFF. Davis House." as IL is conf
monty called, stands at the corner Of
north Twelfth and Clay streets about
three blocks from the Capitol, and upon
the crown of the hill which was the clta-
del OF Richmond's aristocracy in ~ day.
although now the wealth Of the city las
spread further TO the south and west
Apart from the great historic interest
of the house. 1t is well worth q visit,
for il Is a fine type Of the mansion OF tie
"Old Dominion" Three stories in height,
with huge, lofty rooms. some fully forty
feet square, its broad windows command
q view Of the deep valley beneath, Ike
those of fortress overlooking us de-
pendent city. Across the rear Of .he man.
sion colonnade Of pillars. arranged in
pairs, and reaching from the. first story
10 the roof, enclose portico overlooking
the garden This formerly extended On
a level a full square back from the house
itself, and was surrounded by a high
brick wall. while another series II gar
dens extended down the hill almost TO
its base, the decliWty being broken 10y
terraces, groves OF trees. orchards, and
shaded walks. Clay street terminates
opposite the front of the mansion, and
across its head, but on a lower level than
the house itself, extends line Of low
buildings, containing the stables, kitchen,
and slave quarters.
PURCHASE OF THE HOUSE.
To this house Jefferson Davis, President
OF the Southern ConfedeTacy, came with
his family from Montgomery Ala,
shortly after the outbreak OF the war;
and the establishment of the Confederate
Government The house had been bought
by the city OF Richmond from Mr.. Lewis
u. Crenshaw for use as the Executive
Mansion of the new government, the pur-
chase being part of the concessions at
tsndant upon the selection of Richmond
as the capital city. 1t was known at the
time as the "Old Brockenbaugh Man
sion" and its interior finishings and the
furniture with which 1T was embellshed
made II worthy Of the uses to which IL
was about 10 be put.
President Davis and his family occu-
pied the house until the evacuation OF
Richmond, shortly before the close or lhe
war, and during those fieetlng years the
old walls looked down upon incidents en-
bracing all the comedy pathos, and deep
est tire edy that concentrated themselves
about the Chief Executive in the capitai
CITY Of lost but gallantly-contested
cause 1t was a story of official cares
mingling with home pleasures and chill
dren's laughter, of state festivities, with
the rumble OF battle in the distance, OF
feigned gayety, while hearts were as
heavy as millstones one OF the greatest
delights Of Mr. Davis's children was TO
climb up the mantels Of Carrara marble
and kiss the sculptured heads OF heatheh
geddesses that peeped from among the
traeeries Before these same mantels,
General Lee consulted with President
Davis regarding the trials Of the cam
paign, while the attendants warmed his
tea before the fire and the General would
turn for a moment from his routine OF
entertainments, skiEmishes lombard
ments. privations, and camp hardships
TO comment, with a sigh, upon the eie-
gancies that then surrounded him.
HELD WEEKLY LEVEES.
President and Mrs. Davis held weekly
levees, which. toward the end OF the
war. became known as 'poverty-partes,
for food was so scarce that no refresh
ments were served; the uniforms or the
officers were shabby with wear, and the
women had been forced 10 knit or i'm
provise the articles of their apparel from
discarded rags of former fnery. THOSE
were the days when the cotton-print dress
cost SIS. a pair of shoes several hundred
and meats and breadstuffs ran up in price
10 enormous figures. The carpets on the
floors were cut up for army blankets. old
pieces OF silk were unravelled and respun.
to furnish yarn for stockings, and women
plundered barnyard fowls for feathers
for their millinery. In spite Of this Under
current OF tragedy, the state gatherings
in the old mansion could be frivolous
enough, but the men who danced there OF
an evening were frequently called to the
front before the night had waned. and,
when the day ended. were lying cold IN
death upon the battlefield.
VACATED THE MANSION.
President Davis vacated the Executive
Afoputop earIy In Aorii lAE was
forced 70 withdraw from Petersburg and
this led 10 the ek,eyuAtiop of Richmond
by the Confederat aAQtf7orties. President
Davis going 10 BanSiIle Va, a distance
OF about ll0 miles, The Executive Man
sion was left IA charge Of house
keeper but MAS seized Immediately upon
the occupation of the city by the Fedora,
authorltteA 1t was used as an army
headquarters 80 long as the city was in
cludcdun 'Dstrict, No. l." as that region
was called atsfhe termination OF the war.
and, upon Virginia being readmitted 20
the Union, the property again came into
the possession Of the local municipal
authorities. Their uses of 1t almost
ended In the destruction of the mansion
as historic landmark. The partitions
between the great rooms were cut away,
the great apartments transformed into
school-rooms: and for years the house
Was occupied by the Central School''
OF the city. The children's feet wore
away the floors and weakened their sup
ports. the wear and tear OF their occu-
pancy gradually injured and destroyed
what had been left of the interior finish
ings, and finally the building was con-
dcmned as unsafe. Affairs were in this
condition when the present movement
was started TO save the historic land
mark from utter destruction. and estab-
iisn there shrine of Confederate relics.
An application was made to the city