The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-01-19
EDGAR ALLAN POE
BORN, JAN. 10, 1909


| The Edgar Allan PIE Shrine, TIE Poe
! memorial association of Richmond, Va,
| is observing the one huudra and thiT
| te Anth anniversary Of The birth of Amer
! teas great literary geniis Ivy Il special
| meeting and by sending out the first m
| vitation to the general public to partici.
pate in the work the Shrine is doing.
The Old Stone House, an excellent OK.
| ample of the earliest Colonial arciitec.
| ture, probably built by the eity's founder,
| has become the home of the organiza-
ton. This the Oldest house in Rich.
| mond, is still in it's original condition.
Wherever repairs were necessary, instead
| Of new lumber hardware. material
| closely associated with Poe has been used,
| The house has been furnished with orig
inal furniture, and great pains have been
taken to have the whole a harmonious
unit.
The founders Of the Shrine hunted tire
lessly for just the right materials for
the house. Not only have they succeeded
in getting hinges, locks, and fittings in
| keeping with its age but all OF these
are closely connected with the boyhood
and manhood of the poet. Some of the
locks on the doors are the oldest type,
set in d solid block Of wood. Others
came from the home of Elmira Register,
Poes first and last sweetheart. Not only
are some of the old time paneled shutters
interesting because OF their age, and
their early hand-forged hinges and fast
enings; but these, with a pair of hinges,
came from the house in which Poe's
mother died. located a few squares from
the site of the Shrine.
At the Old Stone House-the Poe
Shrine-will also be found a chair once
used by Poe, a table built by the Allan
carpenters out of walnut wood from the
Allan homestead, a fully authenticated
lock of hair, clipped from the brow Of
the poet at his death by DIR. J. E. Snod.
grass, a portrait by Mrs. Norman Bur
we'll painted from a miniature once
owned by Poe's mother law. Mrs
GLENN. Many other relics make one
feel that Poe himself is present, perhaps
brooding a bit over a world that has so
many honors for him long after his
death.
The desk used by Pope at the South
ern Literary Messenger office is perhaps
the most interesting article to be seen
at the Shrine. On unique pigeon hole
of the desk where Poe kept his private
papers is written in his own well known
autograph, ''FI. A. Poe, Personal Papers"
And from a secret compartment in the
top came numerous unpublished manu-
scripts and letters which will be seen by
visitors to the Shrine.
Stepping from the house one enters
Poe's Enchanted Garden; the falls, the
walks. the seats, the pergola TO be found
in this garden are all made from ma
terial from The Literary Messenger
building or from other buildings where
Poe either worked or lived. This ma
terial has been preserved in a beautiful
way for future generations to see and
enjoy.
A formal public opening is planned for
the early spring when the garden will be
in its vernaI glory. Not only is the
Shrine a worthy object OF interest to
tourists. hut promises to become the CEN
ter of interest for Poe lovers. Already
the Memorial has started in compre-
hensive way TO compile every sort of ma
teriaI relating to Poe. and to gather and
preserve for all time, for the use of Poe
students and admirers. copies Of all oh
tainable Poe editions, manuscripts and
letters.
AS this is being written, Francis W.
Hirst. editor Of the London Economist.
who recently visited the Shrine, has To-
Gated and is presenting TO the library
there very rare copy of one of the
first English editions of Poe's works.
Descendants Of Pee have donated many
things Of interest. One Of the largest
collectors Of Americana has become SO
interested that he stated that all arrange
1nents have been made to have his Poe
ana sent 10 the Shrine.