The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1913-05-01
Battle Abbey
Of the
S O u T H


handsomest building Of the kind III the
world and will be fitting memorial
TO the men who fought and died for
the Lost Cause. 1t will be the Battle
Abbey of the South and will stand
as a lasting record of the chivalrous
Southern civilization characteristic OF
Dixie Land.
The institute represents years or Ell
fort on the part of the Confederate
Memorial Association and the United
Daughters OF the Confederacy. 1t
is erected by the people Of the whole
South as their storehouse for the his
torica, records Of the war period. In
II will be preserved for all time the
documents pertaining to that titanic
struggle.
No expense has been spared to beau
tIfy the grounds and building. Large
private subscriptions have helped to
swell the gigantic fund necessary to
the undertaking. The mural paintings
alone in one room will cost $4,000. and
IT will take the artist two years to com
plete the work. 1t will occupy com
mapding site in the residential section
of new Richmond and will be main
tanned by the association under whose
auspices it was constructed. acting IN
its capacity as trustee for the people
of all the Southern states.
The site is located on the left side OF
the Boulevard between Stuart avenue
and Kensington street. The associa-
ton owns the lot between these two
streets. which extends westward as far
as Sheppard street The dimensions OF
the property measure 379 feet on the
Boulevard and Sheppard street and 73o
feet on Stuart avenue and kensing
ton street. The site is on an eminence.
and the grounds are so laid out as to
display to the best advantage the dig
nifled and imposing structure.
The structure stands $50 feet back
from the Boulevard upon terrace de-
signed to give at once dignifed setting
and suitable approach to the building
A broad fight Of stone steps leads from
the lower level to the terrace, 1anked
on either side by a stone balustrade
The terrace, itself extending some thir-
ty-five feet from the building and
eight feet above the lower level. Is con-
tinued around the ends Of the build
ing. giving access to the grounds IN
the rear. These will be commodious
and beautiful The building itself Is
not large. although it is imposing.
The building. which IS faced through
out with Indiana limestone, consists OF
a central pavilion with a wing Oh
either side. having total length OF $50
feet and a height from the terrace to
the top of the parapet Of forty-four
feet. The main entrance is behind
portico of four columns Of limestone of
the Roman Ionic order twenty-five feet
in height.
The two wings on the outside are d.
vided into panels by means OF pilasters
Of slight projection, and below the cor
nice which crowns the whole large
stones are provided which it is hoped
at no distant day will be transformed
BY the art Of the sculptor into carved
panels to serve as suitable memorials
OF some of the great events Of that
time which the whole building Is de-
signed to commemorate.
Passing through the main entrance.
which is guarded by bronze doors six
feet wide and seventeen feet high. the
visitor enters hall thirty feet long
and twenty feet wide. The floor Of the
hall IS Of Georgia marble. The walls
are divided into panels by pilasters of
q warm cream colored marble support
ing a cornice Of the Roman Doric
order. The ceiling Of the hall is in the
form of curved vault, with an orna-
mental skylight Of loaded glass.
In the spaces above the cornice at
either end Of the hall will be placed
reproduction Of the battlefag Of the
Confederacy, done in color, and in the
upper portion of the spaces below the
cornice and between the pilasters will
De paQelS Ol OTudueuldl ueSiSus coSu
containing a reproduction Of a seal of
one of the eleven original Confederate
states. Opposite the main entrance
and opening on the main entrance hall
are situated the Office of the secretary
and the coat room.
Turning to the left from the en-
trance hall. one enters the Memorial
Hall. the most interesting and impor-
tant room in the building. Its dimen
sions are: Length 46 feet. width 81
feet and height from floor to ceiling
% feet. The architectural features of
this room are designed to act as a
frame for the paintings. which are to
occupy all the wall spaces. The finish,
which will he Of Quartered white oak.
consists Of fiuted pilasterS. with carved
Corinthian capitals supporting richly
ornamented cornice. A wainScot three
feet high is carried round the room and
forms a base for the pilasters. But the
important feature of this room will be
the paintings. These will be devoted