The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-26
FIRE TAKES OLD LANDMARK Old Cowles Mansion Vic tim of Flames. ERNEST HOME IN SOUTH" It Was Called That by Senator
 Pendleton. One of the Finest Types of Aate-Bel- ium Home. Goes The Way
 of others of its
 Kind.

When fire yesterday morning con- stunned a portion, of the old residence that had for twenty years or more af- forded office room for the local repre- sentatives of the Atlantic Coast Line, the doom of home that even by such a cultured and widely travelled man as George H. Pendleton. then United States Senator from Ohio and touring the South after entensive travels in Europe, pronounced the finest home in the South, one of the finest in the world, was noted in the biaclxness and dirt and soot and smoke which have already practically effaced from present history one of the ancient land- marks of the past.
 ! Standing high upon one of the lofti- est heights that front the Alabama river at Montgomery. challenging the attention of all corners to Montgomery by its magnificent proportions. holding it by its remarkably chaste architec- ture, the old home of Thomas Cowles. then the home of J. T. Hoitzclaw, to whose wife it passed by inheritance. then the domiciIe of William Graves. who sold it to the Atlantic Coast Line when he. removed to Birmingham. stands now almost a ruin. for whilo its exterior shows but little of the signs and marks of the fire which yesterday destroyed the part of it. its vast rooms and. railways are darkened with smoke, their walls are broken with heat and moisture, and the use- fulness of the building, terminated at least temporarily. is gone perhaps for ever.
 When 1t was constructed. and for many years afterwards. there was not in the entire south a costlier or more admirable home than the residence that stood upon the Alabama river front in Montgomery. When. a few years before the beginning of the War be- tween Che States. Thomas cowies built the mansion. he spared neither ex- pense nor difficulty to make it as fine as possible. Its high-ceiled rooms oE great proportions, its beautiful halls. were adorned with splendid stained glasses, mirrors. frfezes and paint ings. all done by the best artists. this. and the other side of the Atlantic.
 Even the quarters of the servants and the barns and stables were con structed in the richest manner.
 And the expenditure of money was not futile; 1t was for a purpose that was consummated; it made of the Cow les mansion the centre of social life in Montgomery. There were the great men and the lovely women of Alabama entertained; thither gathered together the notables of this State when they
 
 States. What the entire building cost is not known: $1o0.000 is a minimum; half as much again would more near& ly approach the true total As. 1t was constructed. so 1t was furnished ana maintained. A
 The great grove within .swhich it stood in other days, and the house it. self had the undivided care of fifteen servants. and its hospitality was Q standard of lavish entertainment.
 From Major Cowles 1t went to his widow. from her to Mrs. J T. Holtz- claw. By the Holtzclaw family, 1t was sold to Colonel Graves who, when he was going to Birmingham, sold it to the Atlantic Coast Line, by which 1t has since then been utilized for office rooms. .at sr
 Since the railway took over the property the eminence has been cut away now the old house stands upon what is hardly more than e square hill What will now be done with it fs not yet ascertained.
 s. B. Bennett. Superintendent of the railway. said yesterday that none or the plans had been determined It is quite probable, however, that the building will be removed and it's space adapted to the trackage of the railway yards.