Midtown in Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Woodruff - Fontaine House

Photographed by Curtis Wise, February 12, 2020

1. Woodruff - Fontaine House Marker

Inscription.

Built in 1871 along "Millionaires Row", this French Victorian mansion was home to two prominent Memphis families. Amos Woodruff, a successful carriage maker, built the house for his family. Noland Fontaine, an established businessman, purchased the house from the Woodruffs in 1883, where they lived until 1929. In 1930 the house was sold to Rosa Lee to expand her art school that moved to Overton Park in 1959. The house remained vacant until 1961 when the APTA restored the mansion and opened its doors as a museum.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 4E 182.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Women. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1871.

Location. 35° 8.695′ N, 90° 2.302′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in Midtown. It is on Adams Avenue 0.1 miles west of North Orleans Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 680 Adams Avenue, Memphis TN 38105, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Upper South,

in the Mississippi Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

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are within walking distance of this marker: Mallory-Neely House (within shouting distance of this marker); Collins Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Christian Brothers College (about 500 feet away); Luke Edward Wright (about 600 feet away); St. Mary's Cathedral Chapel and Diocesan House (about 800 feet away); Lowenstein Mansion (approx. 0.2 miles away); Artesian Water (approx. 0.3 miles away); Chickasaw Trail (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 25, 2020

2. Woodruff - Fontaine House Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 13, 2020, by Curtis Wise of Jackson, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 616 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 13, 2020, by Curtis Wise of Jackson, Tennessee. 2. submitted on April 28, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.