Elmira Shelton House - Richmond

The Elmira Shelton House is located on East Grace Street in Richmond, Virginia.  This Greek Revival style home was built in 1844 by the Van Lew family.  The house has gained recognition because of its association with Edgar Allan Poe and is one of the few extant homes in Richmond the famous author is connected with.  Poe and Shelton's relationship went back to 1825 when the 16 year old Poe and the 15 year old Elmira Royston were secretly engaged.  After Poe went off to college her family found out and intercepted all correspondence from him.  Shortly after, Elmira married Alexander Barret Shelton, a local transportation businessman.  After Shelton died in 1844 Elmira rented this house on Grace Street.  It was here that the widowed Poe returned to her life in 1848 and began courting her again.    After much insistance on his part, and some refusal on her part, the couple was engaged in 1849.  Ten days before the wedding Poe left Richmond on a trip to Philadelphia, but wound up dead in Baltimore on October 7, under mysterious circimstances.  There have been unproven accusations over the years that Elmira's brothers, who were against the marriage, were responsible for the beating death of Poe.  In later years Shelton spoke very little of Poe and lead a fairly reclusive lifestyle.    

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