Magevney House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Magevney House
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Location | 198 Adams Ave., Memphis, Tennessee |
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Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
Built | 1836 |
NRHP reference No. | 73001831 |
Added to NRHP | November 6, 1973 |
The Magevney House is a very old and important house in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. It's located in an area called Victorian Village. This house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized as a special historical place. It's one of the oldest homes still standing in Memphis today!
Contents
A Look Back: The Magevney House Story
Who Was Eugene Magevney?
The Magevney House was built in 1836. It was a simple wooden cottage. A man named Eugene Magevney built it. He was born in Ireland in 1798. His family was Catholic. In 1828, he moved to the United States. He came to Memphis in 1833.
Eugene Magevney was a very important person in early Memphis. He was a teacher and a community leader. He helped shape the city as it grew. Sadly, he passed away in 1873. This was during a time when many people got sick from a serious illness.
A Place of Firsts
The Magevney House holds a special place in Memphis history. In the late 1830s and early 1840s, three important religious events happened here.
In 1839, the very first Catholic mass in Memphis was held inside this house. A mass is a special church service. Then, in 1840, a priest performed the first Catholic marriage in the city here. And in 1841, the first Catholic baptism in Memphis took place at the Magevney home. A baptism is a ceremony to welcome someone into the church.
From Home to Museum
In 1941, Eugene Magevney's family members gave the house to the City of Memphis. The city decided to turn it into a house museum. This means visitors can explore the house and learn about its history.
In 1973, the Magevney House was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This helped protect it as an important historical site.
From 2005 to 2009, the house and museum were closed for a while. But now, the Pink Palace in Memphis has reopened the Magevney House. You can visit it on the first Saturday of every month. It's open from 1 PM to 4 PM, and admission is free! The Magevney House is part of the Pink Palace Family of Museums.