546 Beale St. and Lauderdale Memphis, TN
Circa 1877. Towered Italianate style
Judge William Mortimer "Morty" Randolph (1837-1916) and Rebecca Ellen Wassell Randolph (1842-1929) built their home on Beale St. They married in 1861. The home was across the street from the Hunt-Phelan House.
Judge Randolph had a legal practice in Little Rock and in 1865 moved to Memphis to change venue. For a time, he formed Randolph & Hammond with Judge Eli Hammond in Memphis. He served as the city attorney for Memphis from 1869-74 and later became a judge.
He built the Randolph Building on South Main Street and Beale St. in 1891. At the time, it was the tallest building in the city. During the Beale St. renewal efforts, it was razed in the mid 1970s.
The Randolph sons, Wassall and George, sold the mansion to the Community Welfare League in 1937. Through the 1940s, it housed the ‘Colored Community Center” and then the “Colored Community Welfare League.” Because of neglect and poor condition, the structure was demolished in 1976. Much of historic Beale St. was demolished for "urban renewal" during that time - it reached many blocks. Wassall moved to and died at 1210 Peabody St. The other son George lived at 1201 S. Prescott St. NR 1971/ delisted 1976
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