The Mississippi Museum of Art issued the following statement.
The Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA/the Museum) today confirmed its acquisition of Fountainhead, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed property in Jackson’s Fondren neighborhood following approval by the Jackson Planning and Zoning Board and City Council. The residence and its furnishings were designed by the renowned architect in 1948, and completed in 1954 for J. Willis Hughes, who lived in the home with his family until 1980.
Lisa Percy, MMA Board of Trustees Chair said, “This strategic acquisition is not only about preserving a culturally and historically important site—it is also a forward-thinking investment in the Museum’s vision for the future. Like Eudora Welty’s House and Garden and the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home, Fountainhead will become a must-see destination and unique experience for residents of and visitors to Jackson.”
MMA Laurie Hearin McRee Director Betsy Bradley said, “Under the Museum’s stewardship, Fountainhead will become a dynamic extension of MMA’s offerings. The site will be open to visitors for the first time, allowing access to this national treasure, inviting visitors to engage deeply with Mississippi’s architectural heritage and design legacy. In addition, Fountainhead will be activated through partnerships that enable it to preserve this important story and extensive archival collections related to it.”
Crescent Sotheby’s International Realty listing agent Douglas Adams stated, “For most of my adult life I have been a super fan of Mid-Century Modern Architecture and design, and especially Frank Lloyd Wright. When I became a real estate agent, the thought never crossed my mind that I would one day be a small part of such a momentous transition of ownership. Working with Bob Adams, Sherri Mancil, Betsy Bradley, the Mississippi Museum of Art, and many others has been a highlight of my real estate career. Not only have we forged a great professional relationship, but we have truly bonded as friends, friendships I will cherish beyond the day of closing. For me, real estate is much more than a transaction, it’s a journey where trust is given and friendships are made.”
In the 1990s, following a trip to Senegal and the House of Slaves memorial on Gorée Island, Overstreet created the series Facing the Door of No Return: monumental abstractions that address questions of displacement and inheritance for the African diaspora. He described these paintings as “personal, emotional examinations of my past, present, and future.” Works such as Gorée (1993) display the artist’s material experimentation. The painting’s weathered, luminous translucency evokes the “drifting opaque dust” and “searing white sunlight” he encountered in Senegal. Jackson’s Mayor John Horhn said, “The Museum’s acquisition of Fountainhead marks an important moment for Jackson. Preserving this architectural landmark and opening it to the public enriches our city and honors the vision of those who saw its value. We thank everyone whose generosity and dedication made this possible for Jackson and for future generations.”“Visit Jackson is honored to welcome Fountainhead into the City With Soul’s rich landscape of cultural and architectural treasures,” said Rickey Thigpen, President and CEO of Visit Jackson. “This extraordinary Frank Lloyd Wright home will draw admirers from around the globe while offering Jacksonians of all ages a renewed sense of pride in our city’s artistic legacy. We look forward to deepening our partnership with the Mississippi Museum of Art as we help share this remarkable landmark with the world.”
MMA will begin work with architecture and restoration professionals to restore the home and fund a plan to maintain it properly into perpetuity. The property will be maintained and programmed under the Museum’s direction, ensuring its preservation and relevance for generations to come. Buses will shuttle visitors to the house from the Museum’s main campus in downtown Jackson. MMA will announce the opening date to the public at a future date. Fountainhead is an example of what Frank Lloyd Wright called Usonian homes—typically designed as a single-level bungalow for middle-income families in the United States. Usonian homes feature native material, flat roofs and cantilevered overhangs, and natural lighting among other architectural elements. Designed by Wright when he was 81, Fountainhead contains four bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and two half bathrooms across 3,558 square feet including the basement and porches. The .97-acre property integrates Wright’s signature principles of harmony with nature and organic design. The innovative design follows the contours of the landscape which determined its parallelogram shape for the module nestled into a wooded hillside. The diamond-shape geometry is repeated throughout the house and dictated the placement of the walls and shape of the interior spaces.
With the walls and ceilings made of Heart Tidewater Red Cypress wood, the house was built without stud walls, sheetrock, brick, tile, carpeting, or paint. Large windows enable ample natural light and offer views of the wooded landscape. Additional elements include Wright-designed built-in furniture, hardwood floors, wooden shutters, skylights, a carport, terrace, three fireplaces, and the original copper-sheeted roof.
23 comments:
I love this. I'm from the Phoenix area, where there is a major Wright influence. Taliesin West is worth the visit if you're ever in the Phoenix area.
306 Glenway Drive
Could've been partitioned into a quadriplex and gone towards relieving a modicum of misery for the unhoused too.
I don’t see a wall to place the tv in front of nor a decent place to even set a beer.
Love Phoenix, been there to several retreats and so many amazing things there.
It is lovely and refreshingly "undated" as a piece of Architectural Art, but it was tight and restricting inside when I was a dinner guest a few times. I have utilized tight vertical grain old heart cypress in construction: all it needs is a rubbed oil finish to be magnificent and it's warmth is well utilized here.
It is lovely and refreshingly "undated" as a piece of Architectural Art, but it was tight and restricting inside when I was a dinner guest a few times. I have utilized tight vertical grain old heart cypress in construction: all it needs is a rubbed oil finish to be magnificent and it's warmth is well utilized here.
Great news! Mr. Adams took great care of this house. He is greatly missed in the preservation world. I was honored to have met him once - such a nice man.
With all due respect, this is the worst investment museum has made in about 3 years lol. Go googlemap-walk the area.
For the record ... this historic house in the Woodland Hills neighborhood.
Yes ..."The Fondren" is a few blocks away up Old Canton Road, but the house is in Woodland Hills.
Bob Adams was indeed a courteous and genteel Architect. His wife Mary, an angel.
@6:51pm. After I googlemap-walked the area, I realized this place is incredible and anyone would be lucky to live there! What a great investment by MMA!
Back in the sixties my parents would ride us through Woodland Hills at Christmas to see the luminaries lining the curbs throughout the subdivision. There were also many Christmas Carolers out. As we approached the Hughes house a group of singers were running down the street. Chasing them was a lady waving a broom and yelling at them. My dad realized the lady was Mrs. Hughes. He stopped and asked her if everything was okay. Her response was a stream or vulgarities about those damn kids coming to her door and singing. I'll never forget that!
@6:51
Some of families that live in that area are generational wealthy families and they’re the ones you rent your beach condo from at seaside or have Oxford condos. One of the biggest commercial developers in Madison county also lives in there along with people that can live anyplace they like. One family has a multi million dollar Martha vineyard home that lives in there. So sorry if it’s not your accustomed cookie cutter house your families with. These people spend more on kids education tuition than most local households earn.
Aways wanted to see the inside. Hopefully preserved for future generations to see a fine FLW example.
I'm sure the neighbors are going to just love the traffic...
I definitely will visit the house. I've been to Taliesin West and to FLW's home in Chicago, both well worth the trip if you're interested in architecture.
6:51 apparently lives in Madison County, so God bless him he can’t help it, but his default reaction to anything Jackson is negative. Please have pity on him - it’s miserable living like that.
FLW fan here too. Traveled to see and sometimes tour his works. There are quite a few people that do the same. This is move is wise and will pay long term dividends. Protect what is left in Jackson.
3600 sq. ft. on one acre. Was the price in the neighborhood of $425,000?
Can't wait to see the pool and "fountain" working again and some work on the landscaping. The home is going to be amazing.
9:34 am The house was listed at $2.5 million. If the owners, reduced the cost for the museum to be certain it wasn't made Trump tacky, good for them. I suspect they didn't need the money but still love the house.
My only surprise is that Krusatyr was ever invited to dinner. He must keep his ire contained for short periods of time or has a reasonable veneer. Dunno, one wealthy Jacksonian is so self-important, loud and obnoxious that he cuts in lines even at private or ticketed party bars and has nearly knocked down ladies who were waiting their turn. He is truly a bully of the first order. Many tolerate him because he has a lovely wife who keeps him in check most of the time and encourages him to donate. Of course, a rude person at a party can be a source of entertainment and a week of gossip and "oh that poor wife" stories. And, I remember learning a lawyer in town was a major KKK member when I gave him my " you are disgusting face". I was both warned and applauded afterwards. Bullies are weaklings.
Glad it will be preserved.
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