DNA IN THE TIMBERS, SOUL IN THE PLACE. We drive by them at the edge of fields, just there in the woods, or just here abandoned at the edge of progress, beneath the tumble of vines and what remains of a roof or a wall, the dark eyes of broken windows and missing doors, the lost welcome of sagging porches, of warmth gone cold from crumbling chimneys, reminders of a life and lives, of another time – and every time I wonder who they were, what happened there.

2. Back Home - Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Things have come full circle at the James Lee House, the historic Victorian Village landmark once home to a riverboat tycoon that reopened as a bed and breakfast almost a year ago.

3. McManus Joins Patrick Accounting - Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Michelle McManus, a Memphis native and certified public accountant, has joined Patrick Accounting and Tax Services PLLC as manager. In her new role, McManus will supervise and review the monthly accounting process for a section of clients. She will also prepare and review tax returns and work closely with clients, assisting them with ongoing tax planning.

4. June 27-July 3: This week in Memphis history - Saturday, June 28, 2014

2013: Groundbreaking for the renovation of the Lee House in Victorian Village as a bed and breakfast. To symbolize the transition of the home built in 1841, members of the Lee family gathered beside the house and rang the large bell in the side yard.
The property is one of several homes of James Lee, who ran the Lee line of riverboats on the Mississippi River. The Lee House LLC – a partnership that includes Jose Velazquez, J.W. Gibson and Kathy Buckman Gibson – invested more than $2 million in restoring the house, which opened in April. Among the features is a 114-year old Steinway piano in the home’s living room.

5. Open House - Tuesday, April 8, 2014

The historic James Lee house in Victorian Village is days away from a grand opening celebration, the culmination of a restoration several years in the making that has turned the property once home to the Memphis College of Art into a bed-and-breakfast inn.

6. Change of Scenery - Saturday, July 20, 2013

After spending years or decades in their current form, longtime staples of the local real estate scene are about to disappear or undergo major changes that will forever alter the city’s built landscape.

7. Historic Transformation - Thursday, July 11, 2013

Around nine years ago Scott Blake was walking to St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral when he noticed a window in the tower at the historic James Lee House in Victorian Village had been blown out, exposing it to the elements.

8. 19th Century Club, Lee House Facing Different Futures - Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. said Monday, July 1, the Midtown mansion that has been home to the 19th Century Club on Union Avenue for most of the 20th century and some of the 21st will probably be demolished.

9. James Lee House Owner Files Construction Loan - Tuesday, June 18, 2013

690 Adams Ave.
Memphis, TN 38105
Loan Amount: $1 million

Loan Date: June 4, 2013

Maturity Date: June 4, 2019

10. James Lee House Owner Files Construction Loan - Friday, June 14, 2013

The new ownership group of the historic James Lee House at 690 Adams Ave. in Victorian Village has filed a $1 million construction loan for renovations of the property.

11. Lee House Renovation ‘Ready to Go’ - Thursday, June 6, 2013

The group that wanted to convert the historic James Lee House in Victorian Village has purchased the home and construction is expected to begin in the next few weeks.

12. James Lee House B&B Granted Development Loan - Saturday, January 26, 2013

The conversion of the longtime vacant James Lee House into a luxury bed-and-breakfast inn is moving along in Victorian Village.

The Center City Development Corp., an arm of the Downtown Memphis Commission, granted developers Jose Velazquez and J.W. Gibson a $130,000 development loan for The James Lee House Bed & Breakfast at 690 Adams Ave. at its Friday, Jan. 18, meeting.

13. James Lee House B&B Granted Development Loan - Thursday, January 24, 2013

The conversion of the longtime vacant James Lee House into a luxury bed-and-breakfast inn is moving along in Victorian Village.

The Center City Development Corp., an arm of the Downtown Memphis Commission, granted developers Jose Velazquez and J.W. Gibson a $130,000 development loan for The James Lee House Bed & Breakfast at 690 Adams Ave. at its Friday, Jan. 18, meeting.

14. James Lee House Bed & Breakfast Granted 10-Year Tax Freeze - Thursday, January 10, 2013

The James Lee House redevelopment is moving along in Victorian Village. 

The Center City Revenue Finance Corp., a board of the Downtown Memphis Commission, approved a 10-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement for The James Lee House Bed & Breakfast at 690 Adams Ave. at its Tuesday, Jan. 8, meeting. The PILOT benefit over the 10-year term is $309,778.

15. James Lee House B&B Granted 10-Year Tax Freeze - Wednesday, January 9, 2013

The James Lee House redevelopment is moving along in Victorian Village.

The Center City Revenue Finance Corp., a board of the Downtown Memphis Commission, approved a 10-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement for The James Lee House Bed & Breakfast at 690 Adams Ave. at its Tuesday, Jan. 8, meeting. The PILOT benefit over the 10-year term is $309,778.

16. Mallory-Neely House Reopening Seen as Boon for Victorian Village - Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Thanks to a new roof and disability compliance, the Mallory-Neely House will be open to the public Fridays and Saturdays beginning Friday, Nov. 9.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and located at 652 Adams Ave. in Downtown Memphis’ Victorian Village Historic District, the Mallory-Neely House retains most of the original historic interiors, furniture and artifacts.

17. Council Could Dissolve Coliseum Board - Monday, September 3, 2012

Memphis City Council members take another step Tuesday, Sept. 4, toward an emerging new push for redevelopment of the Mid-South Fairgrounds by Mayor A C Wharton Jr.’s administration.

The council meets at 3:30 p.m. at City Hall, 125 N. Main St.

18. Council Approves Lee House Transfer - Thursday, August 23, 2012

Memphis City Council members approved the transfer of the James Lee House in Victorian Village Tuesday, Aug. 21, to a developer who will convert the antebellum home into a five-suite bed-and-breakfast inn. Jose Velazquez and his company plan to invest $2 million in private funding in the restoration of the house.

19. Council Approves Cut of City Funding For Vehicle Inspections - Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Memphis City Council members voted Tuesday, Aug. 21, to end city funding for vehicle inspections at the end of June 2013.

The 10-2 council vote followed months of discussion among council members about Shelby County government or the state of Tennessee assuming responsibility for the car and truck inspections.

20. Lee House Development Could Propel District - Tuesday, August 21, 2012

In the 19th century, Victorian Village was home to Memphis’ elite.

Nowadays, the 10-square-block area in Downtown Memphis has one of the highest concentrations of historic structures in the city, with 24 properties on the National Register of Historic Places within four blocks.

21. Council Mulls Funds for Fairgrounds - Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Memphis City Council members take a step closer to redevelopment of the Mid-South Fairgrounds Tuesday, Aug. 21, with $1.7 million in sales tax revenue generated in the Tourism Development Zone that includes The Pyramid.

22. City Council Committee Approves Lee House Transfer - Thursday, August 9, 2012

The Economic Development, Tourism and Technology Committee of the Memphis City Council approved Tuesday, Aug. 7, the $1 transfer of the James Lee house in Downtown Memphis’ Victorian Village from the city of Memphis to The James Lee House LLC, a corporation led by local developer Jose Velazquez.

23. B&B Could Spark Victorian Village - Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Following years of due diligence, the James Lee House in Downtown Memphis could soon be the centerpiece of the Victorian Village master plan.

24. B&B Development Could Spark Victorian Village - Monday, August 6, 2012

Following years of due diligence, the James Lee House in Downtown Memphis could soon be the centerpiece of the Victorian Village master plan.

25. Events - Tuesday, September 15, 2009

The Memphis Rotary Club will meet today at noon at the University Club of Memphis, 1346 Central Ave. Richard Janikowski will speak about crime. Lunch is $18 per person and reservations are required. For reservations, e-mail Taylor Hughes at taylor@memphisrotary.org.

26. Latino Rights Leader To Speak at CBU - Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Jose A. Velazquez, a former Memphian who now leads the nation’s largest Latino civil rights organization, will speak tonight at Christian Brothers University to kick off a community discussion on Hispanic issues.

27. Events - Monday, September 14, 2009

The Institute for Supply Management will host the Eighth Annual NAPM – Memphis Inc. Golf Tournament today at 8 a.m. at Memphis National Golf Club, 10135 National Club Drive. Cost is $140 per player. All proceeds will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis. To register, contact Gary Lemmons at 381-2219 or gary.lemmons@lucite.com.

28. Events - Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Talk Shoppe presents "Snapshot of the Memphis Multifamily Market" today from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South, 3693 Tyndale Drive. For more information, call Jo Garner at 759-7808.

29. Events - Tuesday, May 8, 2007

St. Francis Hospital will host a luncheon for Memphis-area business leaders to discuss hospital quality ratings today at 11:30 a.m. in the St. Catherine's Room at St. Francis, 5959 Park Ave.

30. Events - Monday, May 7, 2007

Methodist Transplant Resource Center is holding its annual golf tournament, Transplant Fore Life Classic, today at 11 a.m. at Irene Golf & Country Club, 8141 Irene Blvd. The tournament is limited to 36 teams. For more information or to register, call 516-7993 or e-mail swearinj@methodisthealth.org.

31. Task Force to Discuss Needs of Hispanic Community - Monday, April 16, 2007

Maureen Olivarez, a bilingual homebuyer and education coordinator for United Housing Inc., can sympathize with Hispanic immigrants who've pursued a new life in Memphis.

Olivarez, who moved to Memphis from Chile almost eight years ago, knows firsthand the language barrier, the culture shock and the struggle to assimilate. She's worked for seven months at UHI, the not-for-profit affordable housing provider, and her job keeps her connected to people in similar straits - Hispanic homebuyers trying to grab a piece of The American Dream.

32. Archived Article: Events - Thursday, March 4, 2004
The Cossitt Branch Library hosts a discard book sale March 4 through March 6 from 10 a

The Memphis Shelby County Public Librarys Cossitt Branch, 33 S. Front St., will hold a discarded book sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Saturday on the...

33. Archived Article: Events - Monday, March 1, 2004
The Aging Commission of the Mid-South and Senior Leaders Inc

The Aging Commission of the Mid-South and Senior Leaders Inc. offer a Life Classes series starting today. The free three-month program runs from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays at All Saints E...

34. Archived Article: Memos - Wednesday, February 14, 2001
David C David C. Bradford joined Askew Hargraves Harcourt & Associates Inc. as a mechanical project engineer. He holds bachelors and masters degrees from Mississippi State University. Christopher M. Kolehmainen has joined Archer/Malmo as chief f...