The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-03-16
'THE)EFF[RSON| IN
|TS.0R:|G.|.N|||A 4 4 \
Brief Descriptior,of the Splendid
Hostclry and its Destrtic-
ton by Fire.
"A MgDEL OF ARCHITECTURE
Magnificent iii Materials, Con-
strt,ction, Equipment, Fur-
rishings and Effect.

The Jefferson 1fotel two thirds OF
which was destroyed by fire on the night
or March ~, 1901, was constructed by
+ Major Lewis Glitter, one OF Richmond.S
most useful citizens and greatest benc-
factors 1t was u concrete evidence OF his
pride In this city his lifc-tlne home, the
scene OF his business struggles from OBJ
scurity 10 tho attainment Of wealth. and
To whose people for whom lie felt the
! attachment which only such resident
can feel. 1t was a noble bequest to the
q city, and ono In which all of Its cit
izcns felt personal pride. THAT 1t IS
&c be restored In all Its original ce-
garcc aud grandeur NY other Richmond
& benefactors, 8actliated more BY public
spirit and civic pride. than by any de-.
sire for gain, will be welcome infortiin-
4 ton to thousands everywhere. 4ss5E
4 & Tho deslgnio of building a great hotel which
d would be credit 10 the city was con-
ceived BY. Major Gntcr about 1892. and.
g irEti,e following year Ills ideas had cry
stalized Into action. He secured Carerre!
4. Hastings, of New York, as srchit ects,
unu lTelT pans ioitttitc2 =.
y accepted, and tile contract for coEstruc-:
ton let to r. j. Polhemus. who super
yised the construction
Covers An Acre. .$
Thc hotel ms originally constructed, anu
4 rs II Will soon be reconstructed. covers
list an acre OF ground. IT fronts upon
II Franklin Street, tho cit"'s most fashion
n able and elegant residence street, and
VI runs back along eHerson s:reet,its vest
"a crtl boundary, through the block to Main
Il Street. Eastward. the structure extends
tc point about midway between Adams
and Jefferson Streets. The height Of the
hotel was five and six stories.
In archit lecture the hotel Us classified as
& the Italian Renaissance type and the
work OF the architects was commended
{, By critics as n triumph in effect. variety
lin Its Ephysiciil features and pictureslnc-
ness OF outline were It's characteristics.
X Devoid OF the stiffness and i$stercotypeu
style Tint mar so many, hotel s=truc;,rcs,S
the hotel was differentiated from all
II others. Variation In height, graceful
Il tG,gerB. and arches every detail il IN fact
S were designed TO q fford Beauty, grace and
variety. The. general effect Is one OF hur-
u i,Iony OF proportion, richness and va
ysricty. The hotel was constructed OF
& cream brick. gray granite and white
terra Gotta. With roofs of red tics and
& adornments OF yarl-colored marbles. all
artisttcallSs mingled and effectively dis
played. In tho Interior. softne.ss and hnr-ff
s. Ii,ony OF tones and N general richness sof
81 effect result OF the efforts OF the
III designers. Il Dortc. Cosnthian and several
y other styles of architecture have been SO
combined ms Il 10 airord variety and yet
10 avoid iarrinsS contrasts and incon-4
U gruitlc.s. b IL Nj ;35 3
Saved From the Flames.
& The most beautiful, architectural portion
was saved from the flames that swept
away tho bulk OF the structure and more
than two-thirds Of the guest chambers.
The portion destroyed embraced the grand
Srotunda. on the Main Street floor OF the:
building, a spacious and brilinnt!y light
& ed apartment two and a half stories in
pitch. floored in gray marble and With u
massive glass dome. through which the
sunlight sifted. This extended northward
to near tile point where the remainder
of The structure still stands. save TINT
! the grand stairway IL ma Gnl ficept3 Tea
sture OF the hotel was swept away In the
wave OF tho flame. From the top OF this
stairway one entered the palm court with
Its statue Of Jefferson and its r.ppling
fountains and POOLS This grand rotunda
and Its stairway were the most beau
9tiful and Ornnt e. features of the destroyed
portion of the old hostclry. The most
beautiful features ofS9thes entire struc-
Sturc#wcre8 spared md stand to-day The \
portion burned embraced about 232 guest
chambers Of tho 342 in the original hotel.
OF the S42. something like thirty four were
reserved for the employees The superb
sparlors and reception rooms and grand
entrance were saved. including the statue
of j ffcrsona OF the burned portion about
two stories of walls remain, these having
been covered over after the debris was
cleared away They llnve remained IN
this condition ever since, with the Main
Street entrances save one closed.
BURNING OF JEFFERSON
"A MEMOIR ABLE FIRE
Es It was few minutes after. II o. clock
Gu the night of March 29th that n fro
alarm came In from the private call box
In the hotel, The grand rotundn and lob
bies, the palm court mid the sparlors and
guests rooms We're nearly all filled with
people ut the time, the tide OF tourist
travel returning from the far South be-