MHT Saves the Flannegan - Lowry House in Jackson by

Relocating it to a New Site

Flannegan - Lowry House on the former site before its move.

Click on the picture to see additional images

of the house before its move.

The Flannegan - Lowry House located in Jackson was built circa 1850 as a Greek Revival raised cottage.  It was originally located on Fortification Street; however, in 1914 it was moved to North Congress Street when it was extended.  After two terms (1882 - 1890) as Governor of Mississippi, Robert Lowry purchased the house for his residence.  Since his death in 1910 the house has had several owners and uses.

Governor Robert Lowry - Image from the Collection

of the Museum of Mississippi History,

Mississippi Department of Archives and History

In 2005, plans were announced for the expansion of the Baptist Hospital which included the land on which the Flannegan - Lowry house was located.  Due to the house’s architectural and historical significance as one of the few surviving antebellum structures in Jackson and as a residence of a former governor, it was determined that it was too important to lose and was placed on the Mississippi Heritage Trust’s 10 Most Endangered Historic Places list in 2005.

After the house was placed on the 10 Most list, MHT and the Baptist Hospital worked together to find a way to save the house and developed a plan to relocate it to a new lot outside of the area the hospital needed for expansion.  Baptist generously donated the house to MHT along with a new lot next to the Manship House parking lot on North Congress Street to move the house to.  The MHT Board of Trustees decided they would commit to financing the relocation and restoration of the house for use as MHT’s state headquarters.   

Lot that was donated by Baptist Hospital

for the relocation of the Flannegan - Lowry House.

With an agreement in place and an available piece of land, MHT began planning for the relocation.  In December of 2005, MHT received a Community Heritage Preservation Grant from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to move the house to the new lot.  MHT then began working out the logistics of moving the house.   In the fall of 2006, a contractor was hired to move the house and build a foundation for it on the new lot.  Preparation was completed on the new lot and engineering drawings finished for the foundation.  The foundation work for the house began in May of 2007 and the house was moved to the new lot in June of 2007.  The remaining foundation work was completed in September of 2007. 

Flannegan - Lowry House during its move.  Click the

picture to see more images of the house during its move.

Flannegan - Lowry House on its new site and after the

installation of the new foundation.  Click on the picture to

see more images of the house on its new site.

In the spring of 2008 architectural plans for the restoration of the exterior and interior got underway and are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.  Steve Davis of Canizaro Cawthon Davis is the principal architect on the project. 

In the summer of 2008 MHT was awarded a grant from the 1772 Foundation to help with the restoration of the Flannegan-Lowry House.  A total of $35,000 was awarded for work to the exterior of the house.  Plans for the grant money include the rebuilding of the front porch, and if money allows the rebuilding of the missing front chimneys and installing a new roof on the house.  Site cleanup took place in the summer at the house removing debris left from the installation of the foundation.  The site was also partially graded to allow water to drain away from the front of the house.

In the fall of 2008 work began on the reconstruction of the front porch which was removed in order to move the house.  Work to the front porch is due to be completed by the by the end of October.

Reconstruction of the front porch underway

at the Flannegan - Lowry House. 

Flannegan - Lowry House Before its Move

Flannegan - Lowry House After the Move and Foundation Work

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