384 South Lauderdale St. Memphis, TN
Circa 1884. 3-story Queen Anne style home
Image from Historic Memphis
Robert Reed Church (1839-1912) built a 3-story Queen Anne 18 room mansion.
He was married twice: Louisa Ayres Church Martell (1844-1911)(divorced) and to Anna Susan Wright Church (1856-1928)(m.1885).
His daughter with Louisa was Mary Eliza Church Terrell was one of the first black women to earn a college degree, was a teacher/ principal, in 1909, was a founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). His son with Anna was his heir son, Robert R. Church, Jr. (1885-1952) who eventually took over his father’s business empire and also, unlike his father, involved himself in politics.
He was the son of a black mother, Emmeline, and white father, Capt. Charles B. Church. His father was a steamboat owner. Church was the South’s first Black millionaire, and he bought his first property in 1862. He owned saloons and other businesses. He was already well invested in real estate and purchased many more businesses and more land during the yellow fever epidemic in 1878-79. In 1906, along with Josiah Settle, M.L. Clay and T.H. Hayes, they founded the first all black-owned bank in Memphis, the Solvent Savings Bank. The bank enabled African-Americans to purchase homes and create businesses.
After the death of Church, Sr. Church Jr. and other family members continued living in the home until 1941. Other family members used it for a decade until 1951. David William resided there from 1943-46. Ella Dotson lived there from 1948-50. It was then vacant for 2 years.
The City of Memphis wished to revitalize the declining neighborhood of that area and raze about 20 homes. It was demolished in 1953 - ??? fire fight tech, Memphis invited fire departments from around world to compare technology.
Afterward, the City of Memphis created the Foot Homes public housing development in 1941. Church family is remembered through The Robert R. Church Elementary school, R. Church Park and Church Auditorium and Park (1899-1921, 1921-1970s).
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