103 North Lamar Bl Oxford, MS
Circa 1869.3-story building with a 2nd floor balcony added later
The Thompson House was the first hotel built in Oxford, MS post Civil War. It was constructed on the site of the former Oxford Inn, built by William Faulkner's great-grandfather, Charles George Butler.
The Oxford Inn and most businesses on "The Square" were burned down in August 1864 by Federal troops. Afterward, there was no hotel for about 5 years. In 1869, Macon Thompson erected the Thompson House and served Oxford for many years on North Lamar. It was also the Majestic Hotel and the Colonial Hotel. At one point, it was renowned for its "refrigerated air."
In the 1970s, the City of Oxford tried to condemn and tear it down. In 1973, William Holcomb and Grady Tollison bought the building for their law offices (Holcomb, Dunbar, Connell, Merkel adn Tollison) - thus saving it! Four years later, Tollison bought his partner out and in the restoration, converted the third floor into his residence. In 1984, he put the Thompson House name on the building again.
The structure now houses the Tollison Law Firm, yayas, A Look Ahead eyewear. In 2006, the back half collapsed, was rebuilt and incorporated it neighbor the Monroe Building into a single structure.
Macon Thompson was a relative of Katherine Thompson Kirkman of Oak Hill in Nashville.
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