Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-23
WILL APPEAL FOR HELP
TO SAVE Poe BUILDING
Delegation To Appear Before Finance
Committee Tonight for
Councils Aid
LOSS WOULD BE InHEpAHABLE
Would Subject Virginia tn l,csentful
Criticism at Home and Abruuti,
Says DIR. &. Alphonso Smith, Of
University Faculty.

AS Il literary shrine t. which thous-
ands would come in future years il is
the purpose OF 81 large number Of earn
est men AMI women Of this city to
preserve the old Southern Literary
Messenger Nuilding, Fifteenth and
Main streets. where Edgar Allan Zoe
dill some Of his earliest work and TO
this end they will appear before III,
Council Committee ON Finance at :
o'clock Tonight aud asl, that il rec
Commend an appropriation for this mr.
pose.
Tho old structure has been CON
dcmncd and ordered RACED by the Build
ing Inspector. Unwilling L. sec the
building vanish and with il the last
memory OF Poe in Richmond many
deeply Interested people Protested
lcarnin" that i; would be impossible.
[" retain the home OF the Messenger
at its present location, IL WAS found
that the best course would be 10 re-
construct the building on another site.
Euilding Inspector Butler has CO.
operated in the matter. Photographs
ui the house were made and measure
mrntS taken. because Of it's dangerous
character. the roof and upper floors
h:tv" now been removed but all ma
ter!ai has been carefully preserved
Tho little money which was raised hy
popular subscriptions has been used.
The lower portion OF the building must
soon bc torn down. 1t Will require
money to preserve this material and
procure a desirable site where III"
building can be rcStortcd in its orig
inal form.
ENGLISH RESOLUTION
ASKS CITY TO HE'LL
10 this end Councilman Edgar Il.
English offered Il resolution. asking
the Finance Committee to appropriate
funds. and the measure is scheduled for
public hearing Tonight. Mr. English
viii he joined by Il large number OF
people, including j. w Everett. cdi-
tor Of the Virginia Journal of Educa-
ton wh" will urge favorable action
OH the appropriation.
The Importance OF this meeting
cannot be overcstima,ed." said MIR.
Everett last night Upon its favor
abb. action rests the salvation OF tho
last building in Richmond directly con-
ncctcd ,"ith the life of Edgar Allan
Foe. Here, for Two years or more he
sat in the editorial chair of the South
crn Literary Messenger. and here h:
wrote such memorable pieces TO
itclcn. Israeli and Arthur Gordon
lynn Later he wrote and asked
am especial favor that The Raven
might h- reprinted and come ont IN
til. beautiful Typography Of the Mes
scugcr.'
The very room and the very posi-
ton or his oiair are identiii... The
desk upon which hr wrote is preserved.
The whole atmosphere ~ rcdolcnt
With intimate memories Of The most
splendid literary genius of America.
France. England and Germany have
united in paying devoted tribute To
his memory. and to-day throughout The
civilized world he is recognized as one
~ the immortals OF literature. The
least scrap Of his manuscript Is treas
ured above price. New York city
s;lcredly preserves tho For'!ham cot
tagc. where he lived for short time.
baltimore builds a monument above
his grave, and Richmond. the city OF
all the world most intimately CON
Eected with his youth and the FIRST
q uits OF his amazing genius is hest
tating as TO whether she will protect
the last landmark connected with his
name and fame.