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Pillow-McIntyre House

Jay Brothers

707 Adams Ave. Memphis, TN

Circa 1847/ ? 1852 2-story restrained Greek Revival with stucco over brick

One of the few remaining Greek Revival antebellum mansions remaining in Memphis.




The home was built by C. G. Richardson, a local builder, in 1847. Later, J. M. McCombes purchased the property. He was a partner with McCombes & Trice, hardware and cutlery merchants. 


After the Civil War, Gen. Gideon Johnson Pillow (1806-1878) and Mary Eliza Dickson Pillow (1846-1913) purchased the home in 1873. His first wife was Mary Elizbeth Martin Pillow (1812-1869)(m.1831).  Pillow and former Tennessee governor Isham G. Harris formed a law practice. The Pillow family resided there about five years until Pillow's death.


After the death of Gen. Pillow, the home was sold to Capt. Peter McIntyre (1847-1927) and Ella Goyer McIntyre (1854-1929) in 1878. Ella’s parents were Charles W. and Laura A.H. Goyer of Harsson-Goyer House. He was president of Union & Planters Bank. McIntyre founded the first glucose refinery in Memphis. He headed the prescription department of Mansfield & Higbee Co. The McIntyre’s daughter, Florence Makin McIntyre (1878-1963), inherited the property. 


In 1942, it evolved into the Memphis Art Association’s Free School. Florence was a great painter and was known as the First Lady of Memphis Art. She was the first director of The Brooks Art Museum.


About 1976, Margie Burkley Vanlandingham Polk (1920-2010) became the owner. A renowned interior designer, she had bought out a design partner, formed Margie Vanlandingtham, Inc. and purchased the historic home. She was married to Judge Greenfield Quarles Polk (1898-1778).  She became the second president of the newly-formed Victorian Village. Margie was a trustee of the Memphis College of art, and used the property for her design studio.


She transferred the property to Ira Sachs (1936-2022) in 1982. Sachs had a diverse business experience between working with Belz Enterprises to establish Holiday Inn hotels across the Northeast and owning the restaurant in Ashlar Hall. Sachs renovated and resided at the Mollie Fontaine house. In 1983, he moved to Park City, UT permanently and did business there: Founded the Yarrow Hotel (former old Holiday Inn, now the Double Tree), the event venue Rose Sachs Gardens (now Louland Falls) and install the first cell tower there. The Yarrow hosted the Sundance Film Festival. He was married twice: Diane Sachs and Diana Lee. Sachs then rented out the home to many local attorneys over the years.


The Law Office of Stephen Leffler, P.C. was an owner of the Pillow-McIntyre House. 





In 2022, Bill Townsend owned the property. Townsend is a well-known developer who specializes in restoring historic structures, and he planned to open an antiques store in the home. Townsend also owns the Lowenstein House, Annesdale Mansion, and other properties. See also Harsson-Goyer House, Ashlar Hall


Sources: 



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