3 Audubon Place
- Built in 1900 by Carrie Thorn Hobson, wife of cotton broker John Barnfather Hobson
- Architect: Favrot & Livaudais
- This house, which still stands, replaced the first one on the lot built by the Hobsons in 1896 and destroyed by fire in February 1899. Extreme weather that month caused even some water mains to freeze, hindering firefighters' efforts to save the house, which was among several neighboring Audubon Place residences that burned
- Prolific Knoxville architect George F. Barber was the designer of the original 3 Audubon Place, the foundation of which appears to have been utilized by Favrot & Livaudais for the current iteration. Also employing George Barber was Mr. Hobson's sister, Mrs. C. Edmund Kells, who in 1895 built the first house that stood at 9 Audubon Place; it was destroyed by fire in September 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. (It has since been replaced)
- Mr. Hobson died at home on December 27, 1930; the Hobsons' son-in-law, Donald A. Maginnis Sr., died in the house on May 24, 1937. Mrs. Hobson sold 3 Audubon Place in 1948 and moved to a new house at 456 Audubon Street nearby that she'd had the firm of Goldstein, Parham & Labouisse design for her
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A rendering of the first 3 Audubon Place appeared in the September 1896 issue of George Barber's American Homes magazine; the house's 1900 replacement eliminated the turret, a Victorian design element that was quickly passing out of fashion. Below: The current 3 Audubon Place is at right; next to it is the John Legendre house (#5, 1899), followed by the residences of Emil Legendre (#7, 1901) and C. Edmund Kells (#9, 1895). Mrs. Kells was Mr. Hobson's sister; both of the Hobson siblings' residences incorporated the elaborate features favored by Barber, who sent his designs to builders from coast to coast. Fire destroyed #9 six days after Hurricane Katrina hit the city. |
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| Downsizing: from 3 Audubon Place to 456 Audubon Street |
Illustrations: Private Collection; Christopher R. DiMattei
