University of Virginia Library

Find $700 In Old Building

Gold Hunters Flock To Brothel Ruins

By SUZY LAWSON

One of the last vestiges of
the male chauvinist
life-gone-by has become a
hunting ground for fortune
seekers.

Marguerite's, until 1949 an
infamous pleasure palace, is
now reduced to mud, rubble
and the remnants of a partially
toppled wall, but still exudes
pleasure of a different sort for
its visitors.

Reports of money hidden in
the demolished building have
left its site to the ravages of
hopeful treasure hunters.

Demolition crews supposedly
discovered about $700 in the
edifice's foundation
Wednesday afternoon while
clearing land for an urban
renewal project. The money
was reportedly found in tight
rolls, mostly of $10 and $20
bills heavily coated with rod
clay. The rolls were concealed
in a wall or floor torn open,
workmen said.

Since the discovery, rumors
have flown through the city
regarding amounts of money
found by those pawing through
the debris.

Fortune hunters have
constantly ignored the "No
Trespassing" signs day and
night for almost a week to

comb the site near Garrett St.
So far, city police have
maintained a hands-off attitude
toward the money madness.

Police Sgl. Morris Taylor
said the officers were not
keeping people away from the
site and had reported no
problems.

After consultation with city
officials, Charlottesville
Redevelopment and Housing
Authority Executive Director
A.E. Arrington said "keeping
sightseers away is impossible
short of posting a 24-hour
guard."

He said the demolition crew
from Shambley Wrecking Co.
was forced to abandon the site
Thursday because of the
hordes of onlookers.

Allegedly a long-time
favorite of Virginia gentlemen
in its heyday, this red brick
mansion reportedly became a
suitable substitute for rolling
down the road.

Before it closed in 1949,
visitors to Charlottesville's
again-famous "sporting house"
reportedly included some of
the city's most distinguished
citizens. The edifice itself
sported tall white columns,
ornate lights and chandeliers,
six entrances or exits and more
bedrooms than anyone seems
to have counted.