Robert Orr, Jr. (1871-1936) and Anne “Annie” Howell Orr (?-1962) build their house in 1882.
The 2 story red brick Victorian mansion was located at 401 Woodland St. Robert Orrs Sr. and Jr. bought into Orr, Mizzell & Murray, wholesale grocers on Market St. In the 1920s, Orr Jr. was president, bought the other principals out and renamed the company, Robert Orr & Co. Orr Jr. moved the company to 164-68 2nd Ave. North and became president and ceo. Walton Cunningham was the only employee who remained with Orr and became vice president and general manager. The featured product was Hermitage Brand Products.
Earlier in life, Anne’s family had purchased a cottage at Beersheba Springs to avoid a cholera epidemic in Nashville. The Orr family continued vacationing there annually.
By the 1920s and 1930s, commercial development was occurring around the Orr House and Woodland so the family purchased and moved to a farm on Due West Ave. in Madison by the early 1930s. About thirty years later, about 1961, the mansion was finally razed for a parking lot for adjoining businesses. The area is now covered by the Woodland St/ I-24 on-ramp.
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