Gallery: Tatum Home
W.S.F. Tatum was an influential businessman during Hattiesburg's early history. He was a leader in the timber industry and served as the city's mayor from 1922 to 1925 and 1929 to 1937. Tatum's home on 808 N. Main Street was a classic show place for many years until 1965 when it was announced that the structure would be torn down to make way for a hotel (The Red Carpet Inn).
The Tatum home was opened to the public one last time on the day preceding it's actual demolition. We're fortunate to have archival snapshots that were taken on that day 60 years ago. While the images are grainy and the color faded, we hope you enjoy this glimpse of a grand Hub City landmark from yesteryear.
As a footnote to history, the hotel that replaced the original Tatum home eventually closed and was converted to HFD Station #1 in 1979. After the building suffered structural damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the remains were eventually demolished. A new HFD Station #1 opened in 2010 and currently occupies the land where the N. Main Street house originally stood.
