Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-12
MRS. A. D. ATKINSON DIES
At HOTEL RICHMOND
End Comes at Institution She Had
Built and Successfully
Managed.
WAS SENENTY-NINE YEARS OLD
Until Recently She Had Given Her
Active, Personal Attention tn
Every Detail Of Great Hotel, Which
Is Monument to Her Memory.
WAS sEvENTY-NINE YEARS OLD

Mrs Addic Detroit Atkinson. Vir-
sinia's pioneer hotelwoman. died a,
midnight in her apartments at the
Hotel Richmond. am institution which
she founded and developed into one
Of the finest hostelrics In the South
| Though she had been in failing health
Tor two months. her death was NOT
believed imminent. However. that she
believed the end near was attcstcd by
the fact that several times last week
Shc voiced IL. opinion that she had
but few hours TO live
Mrs. Atkinson had been confined to
her bed for about ten DAYS. but re-
, iained her faculties until the end
Two months ago she was reluctant Ia
give up her active duties as proprietor
and manager of the hotel but her en-
feebied condition made this impera
tive. and She was from that time on
/ confined To her apartment
No funeral arrangements were made
last night. but will probably be an
nounced to-day
ROSE THROUGH HER OWN
EFFORTS TO OWN BIC: HOTEL
Mrs. Atkinson was regarded as one
OF the most remarkable women in
Richmond. From n start as a salaried
I ~ y
she rose TO the heights Of conceivinG,
building and owning hotel plant
which is valued not far from 81 900. 900.
She died at the age of seventy-nine
years. leaving behind as a monument
to her memory one OF the largest
hotels in Virginia.
Leaving her native home in Amherst
County. Mrs. Atkinson went first to
LynchburR, where she was connected
with the Wall Hotel and later the
Warwick House. Coming to Richmond
III 1854. she was first connected with
the old ST. James Hotel. and in 1889
she identified herself with the Amer
lean. now the Lexington Hotel In
1904 she found herself in position
tp carry out a long cherished dream
building Il hotel OF her own. The
Hotel Richmond rose on its site at the
northwest corner of Grace and Ninth
Streets. overlooking Capitol Square. In
l9l. she completed the huge addition
to the Richmond AT cost OF about
100000.
GAVE BUSINESS HER
CLOSE Personal ATTENTION
Mrs. Atkinson gave such close per-
sonal attention to her business affairs
that she found it impossible to allow
time for other pursuits. Women's or
GaniZations OF various characters,
realizing her worth as business wo-
man. frequently besouGht her counsel
which was freely given. but no attrac-
tion held out could induce her to take
any time away from her duties as
active head of the hotel, and she.
therefore. declined all invitations to
affiliate herself with any leagues or
clubs. The only membership she held
WAS in the Second Presbyterian Church.
Several DAYS before her death Mrs
Atkinson expressed the wish that upon
her death there be no signs OF mourn
ing at the hotel She expressly re-
Quested that the customary musical
programs rendered by the hotel orches-
ira be continued without interruption.
Mrs. Atkinson was the widow Of John
NJ. Atkinson. who died in the early '9Os.
She leaves the following children: Mrs.
T. u. Murray and John Marshall At
kinSon. Of Richmond: Mrs. Harry
Woodruff. OF New York. and Samuel r.
Atkinson. of Richmond. All were with
her when she passed away.
The following grandchildren also
survive: Miss Daisy Morgan, Miss Ad-
die Erwin and Mrs. Raymond Massie.
There is also one great -grandchild,
Margaret Bowles