The James Lee House in Memphis, TN is one of the South’s most beautiful ‘bed and breakfast’ lodging experiences. The opulent home has seen so much of the city’s history and stands as a true example of a bygone era. (See: http://jamesleehouse.com/the-mansion/ )
One of the residence’s most discussed pieces for years was the cast iron fountain that has been with the property for decades. The fountain had been a mainstay at the James Lee House since 1872 and had withstood all varieties of storms and ownership changes. Unfortunately, the fountain fell victim to vandalism and partial theft earlier this winter.
James Lee Fountain in its damaged state prior to a few pieces being stolen.
Thieves made off with most of the upper structure of the fountain leaving only those pieces which were apparently too large to steal. After a short search for possible solutions online, Jose Velazquez- Co-Founder and Managing Member of the James Lee House- contacted Robinson Iron for help.
As a leader in cast metal restoration and recreation, iron fountains of this type are a specialty of our company. Robinson Iron and Mr. Velazquez quickly determined the best path towards restoring his invaluable fountain.
A Robinson Iron crew gathered the remaining damaged pieces and transported the material back to Alexander City, AL. Drawings were then created for Mr. Velazquez’s approval.
Because of Robinson’s vast pattern collection, the James Lee House fountain required no new pattern work and the job could be completed very quickly.
The fountain’s original components were cleaned, examined and repaired where necessary before being joined with the new cast iron parts required to finish the job. In a few short weeks from its removal, the James Lee House had its iconic centerpiece back where it belongs after a Robinson Iron crew installed the restored fountain complete with a new pump!
The James Lee House finally has its fountain back in its proper place. The piece is complete with a more historically accurate and proportional finial and carries a Robinson verde gris finish