Page 244 - Arkansas Confederate Women

The Confedekate Museum of Richmond 215

War had left its impress on the building, and the constant
tread of little feet did almost as much damage. It was with

great distress that our people (particularly the women), saw
the "White House of the Confederacy" put to such uses, and
rapidly falling into decay. To save it from destruction, a

Amass-meeting was called to take steps for its restoration. so-

ciety was formed, called the "Confederate Memorial Literary
Society," whose aim was the preservation of the mansion. Their
first act was to petition the city to place it in their hands, to be

used as a memorial to President Davis and a museum of those
never-to-be-forgotten days, '61- 65. It was amazing to see the
wide-spread enthusiasm aroused by the plan. With as little
delay as possible the city, acting through aldermen and coun-
cil, made the deed of conveyance, which was ratified by the
then Mayor of Richmond, the Hon. J. Taylor Ellyson.

The dilapidation of the entire property was extreme, but
to its "restoration and preservation the society had pledged itself.

— —They had no money the city had already given its part what

could be done ? To raise the needed funds it was decided to hold
a "memorial bazaar" in Richmond for the joint benefit of the
museum and the monument to the private soldier and sailor.

All through the South the plan of the museum and the ba-

zaar was heartily endorsed; so that donations of every kind
poured in. Each State of the Confederacy was represented by a
booth, with the name, shield, and the flag of her State. The
whole sum realized was $31,400. Half of this was given to com--
plete the monument to the private soldiers and sailors now
standing on Libby Hill, and the other half went to the museum.

The partition walls were already of brick, and the whole
house had been strongly and well built, but the entire build-
ing was now made fireproof, and every other possible precau-

tion taken for its safety. In every particular the old house in
its entirety was preserved, the wood work (replaced by iron)

being used for souvenirs. The repairs were so extensive that
the building was not ready for occupancy until late in 1895.

On February 22, 1896, the dedication service was held,
and the museum formally throw open to the public.

But the house was entirely empty. Rapidly the memorials