Text: Various, “Chapter 07,” The Book of the Poe Centenary (1909), pp. 186-190

[page 186:]

DURING the Centenary Celebration the room which Poe occupied while a student was used as a museum for Poeana. It was opened on January 16 under the auspices of the Raven Society, and visitors were admitted until the 20th. A considerable collection of Poe material was displayed. These memorials included the bronze bust of Poe designed by Zolnay; an oil painting of the Fordham Cottage by Sadakichi Hartman; an autographed letter of the poet's; the lace cap of his sister Rosalie; the entire library of Poe literature presented to the University of Virginia Library by Dr. James A. Harrison, editor of the Virginia edition of his works; a stuffed raven presented by an alumnus from Montana; a number of framed letters and poems by distinguished literary men; engravings of Poe's [page 187:] residences; and a very interesting group of portraits of the author at various periods of his life. This material was lent by the University of Virginia, members of its faculty, and friends.

This little room, 13 West Range, is the only spot at the University of Virginia actually reminiscent of the living Edgar Allan Poe. That he did pass here and there on the grounds is of course true; but that he dwelt and dreamed in this dormitory has been satisfactorily proven. It was the home of the poet. Here he studied and wrote for the better part of a year; here on the bare walls he sketched the charcoal studies that served as decorations; here on the last night of his residence at the University he split a rough deal table to furnish firewood. And to this spot as to a shrine came many visitors during the Centenary Celebration.

The room itself is one of the row of dormitories built under Jefferson's direction about eighty-five years ago. It forms part of what is called “West Range,” a long line of single cloistral cells, in front of which extends a covered walk or arcade, formed by the over [page 188:] hanging roof supported by square brick columns. It looks toward the west, giving a view of the misty reaches of the Blue Ridge, and nearer, toward the south, of the broken, tree-clad Ragged Mountains, — the scene of the poet's solitary rambles and lone communings. Over the door is a simple bronze tablet, the gift of Miss Whiton and Miss Bangs of Washington, D. C., bearing the inscription: Domus parva magni poetæ.

Within the single door is a severely bare apartment. The room is about twelve by fourteen feet in dimensions, with a comparatively low ceiling. It contains one window opposite the entrance, and on the right a grate fireplace with a plain wood mantel shelf. On either side of the mantel are recesses a couple of feet deep. What it looked like in the poet's day can only be conjectured, but it was probably much the same as at present; indeed, there is sufficient evidence to uphold the belief that despite the hard use to which university dormitories are subjected, the floor, though patched, is composed in the main of the very boards across which Poe's restless feet paced, and that the mantel is the same before which he brooded during long watches. [page 189:]

For many years the room was used as a dormitory inhabited by a succession of superstitious or hero-loving students. About 1900 and for three years thereafter the room was the office of Professor Richard H. Wilson, of the Department of Romance Languages. In 1906 the University turned the room over to the Raven Society, an honorary society composed of the literati and scholars of the institution. This organization had taken the title of Poe's famous poem for its name, and a silhouette of that solemn bird as its insignia. To do its patron honor, it desired to fit out his old room. In 1907 a committee was appointed, but, owing to financial difficulties, could accomplish nothing. The fall of 1908 a committee composed of L. R. Whipple, chairman; R. M. Jeffress, and J. B. Holmes, was selected by The Ravens from their number to furnish the room.

The society voted money from its own treasury, and sent out an appeal to its alumni members. The latter responded generously, and with the funds secured from these sources, the committee was able to carry out its intention. After the consideration of several [page 190:] plans it was decided to decorate and furnish the apartment as a student's room in Poe's time. The place had fallen into a state of serious disrepair. With the assistance of the University and Dr. W. A. Lambeth, the necessary changes were made. Two unsightly closets were removed, the floor was strengthened, the mantel adjusted, the walls plastered and tinted, and the paint renovated.

Then with the cooperation of the Biggs Antique Company of Richmond, Virginia, and a firm of decorators in St. Louis, Missouri, the furnishing was partly completed. The furniture is all solid mahogany, of the period of 1830, and most of the pieces are genuine antiques. Of particular interest is a heavy settee which at one time was in the Allan home in Richmond. The table, chairs and hangings conform to this style. The room has been suitably marked, and partly furnished, and with the contributions that will doubless [[doubtless]] come with the years, will finally contain worthy memorials to the poet's fame.