Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-30
Poe SPENT HIS EARLY
B0YHO0D DAYS HERE
Erratic Genius and Brillian,
Writer Did Some of Best
Work Here.
MADE MANY LASTING FRIENDS
tttrhmond Fitting Place for Memorial
to Great Poet, I'm Opinion OF George
Edward Woodbcrry. Noted Author
md Lecturer.

Opening of the Poe Shrine on East
Main Street. II unique memorial TO
n unique figure in American letters
serves Ia remind Richrnonders that
the crratic genius. regarded by many
as the most brilliant literary man
this country has produced, spent his
early boyhood days In Richmond.
and did here some OF his best work
J; Was here tina: he formed many
lasting friendships and from this
city he carried with him many Of
the most fragrant memories OF his
IRE. All this. In the opinion OF
George Edward Woodbcrry. noted
author and lecturer, makes Richmond
n htiing place for IA memorial To the
great poet.
Edgar Allan Poe. poet. short
STORY writer and critic. WAS three
years 81 age when his mother Eliza
beth Arnold. an English actress. died
in the Bird in Hand" house In Rich
inond. David Poe. the father. and
member Of a prominent Maryland
FAMILY. is believed 10 have died in
Norfolk The young actress left
three children, william Henry, the
elder. who was sent to relatives in
Baltimore: Rosalie. adopted by the
McKcnzie's, OF Richmond. Keepers OF
girls fashionable boarding school,
and Edgar. who was taken mot
adoptcd) by John Allan. Scotchman
by birth, and n prosperous tobacco
merchant OF this city. who lived At
Fourteenth and Tobacco Alley, a
small! street just north OF Main, ex-
tending between Fourteenth and
Fifteenth. From this family 20" re-
cclvcd his middle name. -. H. Whit
~, a Poe authority, states.
Attended school Here.
After few years, Too was sen,
70 Il school kept b. Elizabeth Miller.
near Main. Oh Seventh Street. later
Franklin, on seventh. Hc was a fire.
quent visitor. with his new mother.
10 Monumental Episcopal church. Ia
the pew marked taday with the fam
lily name.
In 1873 Mr.. Allan formed business
connections in London and took his
family there to live. Poe attended
DIR. Bransby's School. IN Stoke New
ington. "A suburb OF London. where
tho atmosphere for William Wilson
was gathered.
Returning from England IN 1870.
the Alluns went To the Ellis home.
Second and Franklin Streets. where
they stayed about year. moving
then 10 a house on Fifth. near Mar
shall street, where they lived sew
cral years. Financial rcvcrses over
took Mr.. Allan here. and the home
and furnishing was sold. being
bought in by William Calf. n rich
relative. who owned the home AT
Fourteenth and Tobacco Alley. The
Allans went back 10 their first home.
When Calf died leaving his property
and money To the Allans. they moved
hack to Fifth and Main Streets. To
tho home marked as the site OF the
Allan home.
Poe Resumes Studies.
After returning from England
young Poe went 10 private school
conducted by William Burke In the
Deishhorhood OF Tenth or Eleventh
ana Marshall Streets. Later he was
transferred I GA school kept hy a
Mr.. Clarke, near Fourth and Broad
Streets.
Poe left for the University OF Vir-
Tinia in 1925 and came back at the
end Of the school term. in December
az 1926. staying here untn May o.
! S21. when he disappeared. He was
not heard Of until July. when he was
found 10 have Joined the army. being
. stationed in Boston. The company h.
was in was moved to Charleston. s
/ G.. where the basis for the Cold Bug
was laid. and from there 10 T'ortrcs.