Petersburg City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Newspapers.....Demolition, 1942 

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"Smithfield (VA) Times," Vol. 23, No. 50, Thurs., Mar. 12, 1942, p. 4 

KRAZY KRAX KOLUMN 

"MT. ERIN" 

  Many are the country folk from far and wide who have seen or heard of the 
magnificent old residence in Petersburg called "Mt. Erin" or so frequently 
referred to as "Cameron's Castle."  This old home, built soon after the Civil 
War and in which thousands have been entertained in over a period of years, is 
still in a wonderful state of preservation and its architecture appeals to all 
who have had the pleasure of crossing the threshold, but its days are numbered 
and it will soon go the way other old buildings have gone when they happen to 
stand directly in the path of new ideas and new visions when it has been 
proven that the site can serve the community in a much better way. 

  Yes, the old "Mt. Erin Castle" with its twenty-five or thirty rooms 
including a large ballroom, drawing room, libarary, large dining room, massive 
halls finished in Australian wood paneling, sun parlors, gymnasium, eight 
private bath rooms and servants' quarters will soon be in memory only, and all 
left will be the lovely landscape with its beautiful trees and shrubbery. 

  Thus again, like in other cases, the demolition crew of GRESHAM & WARE with 
hammers and wrecking bars in their hands and pains in their hearts are tearing 
the insides out of this beautiful structure and cusomers who need or want any 
of the material from which this building is constructed will now have an 
opprtunity to get it if they act quickly.  Yes - such things as an immense 
heating plant and radiation, oil burning equipment, bath tubs, toilets, 
lavatories, pipe, hardwood flooring, wide pine flooring, doors, windows, 
stairways, lumber and thousands of brick. 

GRESHAM & WARE 
128 N. MARKET ST. 
PETERSBURG. VA. 

  "Mt. Erin" was built by Mr. Wm. Cameron, big tobacconist in the years 
following the Civil War, and later became the property of Mr. George Cameron, 
Sr., whom so many will remember in the business life in and around the city 
of Petersburg.  Much of the material of which make up this wonderful old 
structure was imported from other countries and it seems a great pity that 
it's reached the end of a perfect day. 

  Those who grieve over its demolition can only console themselves with the 
fact that in its place will rise a handsome and modern hospital that will 
replace the present Petersburg Hospital which has not only outgrown its 
present quarters, but those quarters also have about reached the limit of 
their usefulness.  Though the "Mt. Erin Castle" comes down, the material in 
it has not reached the limit of its usefulness and the thousands of brick, 
lumber, fixtures, etc., will be scattered into many other buildings far and 
wide over Southside Virginia.  In fact, one could purchase enough brick to 
build a complete house and it would carry with it the historical atmosphere 
of old "Mt. Erin." 

GRESHAM & WARE 

  If these old walls of "Mt. Erin" could talk they could reveal the secrets 
of the financier, the inner life of the castle, the reactions of the guests, 
the parties, the hospitality, the friendship, and oh! how would the busybodies 
of today enjoy listening to the whispers of the walls.  Well, such will not be 
the case, for these secrets will be buried forever in the dust and debris 
caused by the wrecking and the material that is salvaged from it will live 
again in other homes to mother new secrets of new and later generation. 

  So, why not be one to give these doors, windows and brick a new lease on 
life and at the same time save money by using some of this extra good building 
material? 

  The old "Mt. Erin Castle" must be demolished and removed in its entirety 
within ninety days and all material not sold while the demolition is going on 
will he hauled into the OPEN AIR SHOW ROOM and be on sale there along with all 
of the other building material, doors, windows, antique mantles and other 
items we have for sale. 

GRESHAM & WARE 
128 N. MARKET ST. 
PETERSBURG, VA. 


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file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/petersburg/newspapers/19420312st.txt