This past Saturday, Jose and Jennifer Valazquez hosted the Harsson family descendants along with my wife and myself at the unrenovated house. The James Lee House property was first deeded to Seth Wheatley January 25, 1839 who deeded the property to William Harsson January 10, 1852 who then deeded the property to his son-in-law Charles Wesley Goyer who along with his wife Sallie lived in the home until they deeded the home July 8, 1890 to Rowena Lee (wife of James Lee Jr.). on May 15, 1929 their daughter Rosa Lee deeded the home to the City of Memphis. Rosa founded the James Lee Memorial Art Academy. The house along with the next door Woodruff Fountaine House housed the James Lee Memorial Art School until 1959 when the Memphis Art Academy was build and the school moved to the new facilities.
Jose and Jennifer have hired Fleming and Associates Architects to design plans to create an upscale Bed and Breakfast in this historic Memphis home.
http://www.jamesleehouse.com/ pictures by Charlotte Lee