Woodruff-Fontaine House, Memphis, TN

In 1870 Amos Woodruff commissioned his new residence to be built at 680 Adams Street. This cost him $52,600 in total for the land and the home. The Woodruff family occupied the 2nd floor of this Second Empire French Victorian home from 1871 to 1883.




During these years, Memphis suffered several terrible yellow fever epidemics descimating the population. In 1883 Mr. Woodruff sold the home to Noland Fontaine, a memphis cotton factor.

The Fontaines lived in the home forty-six years, rearing eight children to adulthood. The property was eventually bequeathed to the City and later the building stood vacant for about 2 1/2 years and after being vandalized numerous times it was finally preserved by the Tennessee Antiquities and in 1964 was opened to the public.


Every year the house is given a theme for the interior. This year was to show how the occupants would have lived through a time of mourning.

Mirrors are covered during this morning period and everyone wears black from head to toe.

Notice the beautiful stained glass that are inside the front doors of the home. These are the original stained glass that came when the house was built.

This is the receiving parlor of the home. (Hey, they forgot to cover that mirror.........)

Look at the beautiful staircase. The woodwork in this home is all Southern cypress. The crown molding is different in all of the rooms as are the ceiling medallions.

This little house below was built specifically for the children to play in. (Sure beats a tree house!)

This picture below is of a house built, which is across the street and I believe, for one of the relatives of the Fontaine family.

See ya down the road !