Live Local: The Redding House

Lace up your shoes and take a stroll with News 25’s Lorraine Weiskopf in today’s edition of Live Local, a series you can catch here on News 25 on Thursdays.

Today, we take you to stop number 20 of the Biloxi Walking Tour with Biloxi Library Historian Jane Shambra.

At 770 Jackson Street stands the Redding House, one of the finest colonial revival houses the City of Biloxi has left, named after its builder. Biloxi Library Historian Jane Shambra said, “Charles Redding built the house. He was a prominent businessman. His work was right next door and his family lived here for years and years.”

There are photos of the Redding family sitting on the front porch for pictures. Charles’ daughter Maybelle Redding was even photographed during her graduation at Biloxi High. She was a part of their first graduating class. There’s also an iconic photo of Minnie Mouser May lounging around. “Of course, they had a cat because for some reason the library has a really cute picture of their cat. He must have been a part of their family.”

Built in 1908, the mansion withstood multiple hurricanes and storms and still remains a focal point in the heart of downtown. Note the sturdy hurricane shutters on some of the windows, a feature providing protection from the severe weather that occasionally frequents the Coast. “If there’s going to be a storm, they could simply unhook it, close it together, and it prevents the strong winds from blowing and blasting in the house.”

The house has gone through significant upgrades including adding ramps for disability access. Although its most prominent features remain such as the wrap around porch and detailed columns. “It’s the only mansion in downtown Biloxi.”

The Redding family moved out in 1998. For now, the house sits vacant with a for sale sign in front of it. In 2019, Zillow assessed the house at being worth a little bit under $725,000.

While its future remains unknown, it sits in the city with its complex and fine detail, waiting for future occupants.

Live Local is made possible through the support of the Biloxi Library System.

Be sure to tune in every Thursday as News 25 continues highlighting places of interest along the Coast.

Categories: Featured, Local News, News

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