The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-24
MANY APPEAL FIR
RELICS PRESERVATION
WOULD MOVE STRUCTURE.
Many Favor Recreation Of Old Poe
Building On Grounds Of Richmond
College-Refe1red to Administrative
Board.

A number OF prominent men OF
Richmond appeared before the FL
nance Committee of the Council last
night in behalf of the resolution Of
fered by Edgar B. English, askin g
that the committee appropriate suf-
ficent funds for the preservation of
the building at 1901 East Main Street.
which was the home OF the famous
Southern Literary Messenger. It was
here that Edgar Allen Poe began the
literary career which carried his name
and his works abroad to all parts of
the world. and gave Richmond and
Virginia a reputation in the world Of
letters which is growing as Poe's fame
grows.
Mr.. English spoke flrst in behalf
of the resolution, before a large body
of eounciimen and visitors, who show
ed deep interest in the proposed ac-
ton OF the committee Il feel that II
will be a disgrace to Richmond not to
preserve that building here" said Mr.
English. and recalled the fact that It
has become custom In our Colonial
advancement to preserve the cid land
marks which contributed to our his
tory He cited the fact that other
cities have preserved similar land
marks. and declared that in his opin-
ion the proposition should he carried
through, even IL IL cost ten thousand
dollars to accomplish II. He referred
to the large amounts often appropriat-
ed by the com mittee for the purposes
of advertising Richmond. and said that
II the Council allowed this old build
ing to be tern down II would be the
greatest stroke of advertising the
wrong way they could possibly under
take. DIR. Everett supplemented the
l
a communication from DR.. Alfonso
Smith, of the University of Virginia.
DR. Smith. who Ia one of the best
known men of letters in this coun-
try. is also quite well known abroad,
and said that Richmond In well known
in foreign literary circles because 1t
represented the beginning Of the
career Of Poe. For this reason, Or.
Everett insisted the old building
should be kept
Many Urge PRESERVATION
Mr. r. v. Valentine offered the sug-
gestion that the preservation Of tho
structure would serve greatly in an
educational way. keeping In tact tho
style OF architecture used in Rich
mond's earlier business days. Mr..
wyndham r. Meredith referred
strongly to the fact that Richmond
had adequately honored the memory
OF Marshall. and that he had all pos
sible respect for this great statesman.
But that Poe was a. eminently die
tator in literature az Marshall was in
the law. and that Il would be q dis
graceful thing not to preserve this
building as a monument to the poets
genius. He declared thar 1t was a
fact beyond all doubt that Poe was
not only a writer Of short stories, but
was the creator OF the short story,
after whom the great French writer's
copied He made an earnest appeal
for funds to save this old home OF the
first magazine 10 which Poe con-
tributed. and named the poet as one
OF Nirginia's three greatest men.
Mr. English suggested that the
building be re-erected on site in
Byrd Park, but Mr.. Meredith proposed
TO carry the house TO the Richmond
College campus at Westhampton,
where the college authorities have Of
fered a site for It's erection. Chair
man Grundy asked for a report on
the estimated cost OF moving the
building. and Building Inspector But
Ter stated that he thought II would
cost at least 10000 He further
stated that after inspection of the
building he had concluded that only
about one-third of the material in 1t
could be used again. as the bricks
were practically ''lifeless." and many
OF them already crumhling- Opinions
OF other contractors. however, seemed
to show that the work could be done
for some four or Ave thousand dol
lars, with the aid OF materials from
an old warehouse. which Is to be
torn down near the old Messenger
building Councilman Mills suggested
that before the matter be definitely
acted upon a full report OF the cost
OF reconstruction be submitted. and
on his motion the matter was referred
to the Administrative paard for their
action and disposition. The sentt-
ment OF the meeting was strongly in
favor of the preservation OF the build
ing. and It's removal to the Richmond
College site, provided thorough ex-
animation shows that the Idea Is
feasible. The board 10 expected to
act definitely on the matter within
10 rnxt fAv dave