'Bizarre in the greatest way possible to be back;' woman gets first home in Humes Heights

Emily Adams Keplinger
·3 min read

After living in apartment after apartment, rental after rental, Fannie Weinberg was ready to get a house that she could call her own.

Fannie, along with her two canine companions, is happy to have a home of her own.
Fannie, along with her two canine companions, is happy to have a home of her own.

“I wanted to have something where I could change the paint color, have a yard for the dog and freely vacuum at midnight if that’s what I wanted to do,” recalled Fannie. As the proprietor of Paradox at PeCo, a small business at the intersection of Peabody and Coope avenues, Fannie knew she wanted to find a house in or close to Midtown. Also, she wanted a nice yard for her dogs to enjoy, and a place that needed little to no repairs.

“I contacted Leigh Martin, a real estate agent with Hobson Realtors, to help me with my house hunt. Because we had both lived in the same neighborhood in Midtown for years, I had known Leigh for a very long time. She is one of the many people who were a part of the village of Midtowners that helped raise me. When I felt like it was time to buy a house, there was no other person I was interested in having as my agent — only Leigh, the best of the best.”

The Colonial Revival cottage, c. 1947, feature three bedrooms and one bathroom.
The Colonial Revival cottage, c. 1947, feature three bedrooms and one bathroom.

Fannie had been looking at hundreds of houses online before she formally signed on with Leigh. Then Leigh took Fannie to see three houses in person. They found just want she was looking for in Humes Heights, just west of Chickasaw Gardens. Fannie paid $249,900 for 1,200 square feet of living space. The Colonial Revival cottage, c. 1947, featured three bedrooms and a bathroom. Also, it had a separate living room and dining room. And there were beautiful hardwood floors in every room. The cozy kitchen made use of every inch of space with a built-in microwave and a convenient work space triangle. The painted bead board backsplash added a nice vintage touch. The bathroom had been partially updated with a newer tile floor that complemented the original white tile on the walls. The shower/tub combination and pedestal sink made the room feel airy.

The living room features an eclectic mix of furniture and art. The walls and the ceiling are painted a very dark green tone to give a different mood to the room from the rest of the house.
The living room features an eclectic mix of furniture and art. The walls and the ceiling are painted a very dark green tone to give a different mood to the room from the rest of the house.

“Oddly enough, the house I lived in from ages 2-10 is two houses down from me now, on Humes,” said Fannie.

“I am obsessed with the backyard. The previous owners clearly put a lot of love into it. The house has a small side porch and the lot is dotted with mature trees. There’s a two-car carport with an attached utility room — perfect for my dad’s workshop. I like my covered back patio and the backyard is fenced and nicely landscaped.”

Fannie plans to fully renovate her kitchen.
Fannie plans to fully renovate her kitchen.

Although not looking for any major renovations, there are a few changes that Fannie has in mind for her new abode.

“My new home doesn’t have Central Heat or Air,” explained Fannie. “It has floor furnaces and window units. I hope to change that in the next year. I would also like to re-do the kitchen and the bathroom in the upcoming years. Perhaps I will add a master bath and an additional bedroom.”

The backyard is lush with a lot of foliage and a water feature.
The backyard is lush with a lot of foliage and a water feature.

As for her neighborhood, Fannie said, “It’s perfectly quaint and peaceful. I can see my neighborhood from my new front yard. I spent so many of my formative years running around in this area. My new next-door neighbor is someone I have known for my entire life. His kids and I grew up together. And, I spent plenty of summers swimming in their pool and running around at their house. It feels bizarre in the greatest way possible to be back living here again. I couldn’t be happier.”

The primary bedroom continues the eclectic feel of the house with orange walls and complimentary-colored art on the walls. Basket lights provide a decorative touch.
The primary bedroom continues the eclectic feel of the house with orange walls and complimentary-colored art on the walls. Basket lights provide a decorative touch.

Emily Adams Keplinger is a freelance reporter who produced this feature for the Advertising Department.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Homeowner gets first home in Humes Heights