Tullis-Toledano Manor facts for kids
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Toledano-Philbrick-Tullis House
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Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Toledano-Philbrick-Tullis House 1936
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Location | 360 E. Beach Boulevard, Biloxi, Mississippi |
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| Built | circa 1856 |
| Architect | Christoval Toledano |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001095 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Destroyed | 2005 |
| Added to NRHP | November 05, 1976 |
| Removed from NRHP | July 16, 2008 |
The Tullis-Toledano Manor, also called the Toledano-Philbrick-Tullis House, was a beautiful brick mansion. It stood on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Biloxi. This large home was a great example of Greek Revival architecture. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Sadly, Hurricane Katrina completely destroyed it in 2005.
Contents
History of the Manor
Building the House
A man named Christoval Sebastian Toledano built this house in 1856. He was a broker, someone who buys and sells things like sugar and cotton. Mr. Toledano was from New Orleans and had Spanish family roots. He built the house for his second wife, Matilda Pradat.
The house was very big, with two and a half stories. It had five sections on the front. The walls were made from red-clay bricks. These bricks were made right there in a brickyard in Biloxi. Inside, a wooden staircase curved upwards to the higher floors.
Other Buildings and Owners
There was also another building on the property. It was a two-story brick kitchen. This building also had rooms for servants. It was about 50 yards (46 meters) behind the main house. Later, in the 1900s, this building was changed. It became a guest house for visitors.
Matilda Toledano sold the house in 1886. After that, many different people owned it. In 1939, Garner H. Tullis bought it. He was from New Orleans and led the New Orleans Cotton Exchange. He used the manor as a summer home.
Storms and Destruction
In 1969, Hurricane Camille hit the area. The Tullis-Toledano Manor was badly damaged. After the storm, the house was closed up and left empty. In 1975, the Tullis family sold the house to the city of Biloxi. The city fixed up the house. For the next 30 years, it was used as a museum and a place for community events.
The manor had stood for about 150 years, surviving many storms from the Gulf. But on August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina completely destroyed it. A large barge from the Grand Casino Biloxi was washed ashore by the hurricane. It crashed into the house, crushing it. Nothing was left of the Tullis-Toledano Manor except rubble.
The Councilor Oak Tree
Next to the Tullis-Toledano Manor, on its east side, stood a very old tree. It was a southern live oak tree, known as the Councilor Oak. This tree was centuries old.
Legend of the Oak
People in the area had a special legend about this tree. They said that Native American tribes and French settlers signed important agreements under its branches. That's how it got its name, "Councilor Oak."
Size and Fate
The tree was huge! Its trunk was about 21 feet (6.4 meters) around. Its branches spread out more than 100 feet (30.5 meters) wide. The Councilor Oak was also special because it was the 45th tree to be registered with the Live Oak Society. Sadly, this amazing tree was also destroyed in August 2005. The same barge that crushed the manor also destroyed the Councilor Oak.
Images for kids
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A casino barge that destroyed Tullis-Toledano Manor during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
