Built in 1927, this modest home was gifted to Tom Lee, an African American river worker who in 1925, despite being unable to swim, heroically rescued 32 people from the capsized steamboat M.E. Norman. Tom Lee’s legacy endures through the riverfront park bearing his name, yet his home remains one of the few tangible links to his life and extraordinary courage. Preserving this house would honor his heroism, highlight African American contributions to Memphis history, and offer future generations a meaningful place of reflection.
