News Summary
The Klondike Smokey City Community Development Corporation has received funding to develop a cultural center at Tom Lee’s historic home in Memphis. Supported by a grant from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, the center will honor Lee’s legacy and provide educational resources to the community. Lee is remembered for his heroism in 1925 when he saved 32 people from drowning, an act that solidified his place in local history. Plans include a ceremony to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his life-saving efforts.
Memphis โ The Klondike Smokey City Community Development Corporation (CDC) has secured funding to develop a cultural center at the historic home of Tom Lee, located at 923 N. Mansfield St. This initiative is supported by a grant from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, which announced a distribution of $3 million across 24 sites, including several historic properties in Memphis.
The grant will allow the CDC to craft a comprehensive plan for the cultural center, designed to honor Leeโs significant contributions while also serving as an educational resource for the community. The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund has a history of investing in historic sites, particularly in Memphis, which is recognized for its rich African American heritage.
Tom Lee is popularly remembered for his heroics on May 8, 1925, when he saved 32 people from drowning in the Mississippi River after the steamer M.E. Norman capsized. The vessel, which was overloaded with 72 passengers on a trip back to Memphis from Arkansas, tragically overturned, creating a chaotic scene in the river. Remarkably, Lee, who could not swim, used a small wooden boat with an outboard motor to navigate the dangerous currents and rescue individuals struggling in the water. Reports from survivors highlight Leeโs bravery as he repeatedly ventured back into the turbulent water to save more lives.
Despite his life-saving efforts, Tom Lee downplayed his actions, believing he merely did what anyone else would have done in his situation. His courageous deeds led to national recognition, culminating in an honor at the White House by President Calvin Coolidge. Following the incident, the City of Memphis offered Lee a position in the sanitation department. Additionally, the Engineers Club of Memphis purchased a home for him in the Klondike neighborhood and continued to provide financial support for him and his wife annually.
Tom Lee passed away from cancer in 1952 and was laid to rest in Mount Carmel Cemetery in South Memphis. His gravestone, however, does not mention his heroic act; instead, it bears the inscription, “Lead me in the path of peace.” In 1954, as recognition of his bravery, Tom Lee Park on the Mississippi River was renamed in his honor. The park features a statue depicting Lee saving a victim, commemorating his noble actions. Despite natural disasters that destroyed an obelisk marking his heroism twice, recent renovations in the park have introduced 32 basalt sculptures, each representing the lives he saved, as well as a 33rd, taller sculpture to honor Lee himself.
The significance of Tom Lee’s decision to save others continues to resonate with Shelby County historian James Rout III, who emphasizes the enduring legacy of his actions. A ceremony is also planned to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Leeโs life-saving efforts, highlighting the lasting impact of his heroism on the community.
In conclusion, the grant awarded to the Klondike Smokey City CDC for the development of a cultural center at Tom Lee’s home represents an important step in preserving both the history and the legacy of a local hero, reflecting the profound impact that one individual can have on many lives.
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Additional Resources
- Daily Memphian: Tom Lee House & Cultural Heritage Fund
- Local Memphis: Public Safety at Tom Lee Park
- Fox 13 Memphis: Honoring Tom Lee Park
- Choose901: Tom Lee’s Lantern Parade
- Memphis Flyer: The Story of Tom Lee
- Wikipedia: Tom Lee (hero)
- Google Search: Tom Lee Memphis
- Google Scholar: Tom Lee Memphis
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Tom Lee
- Google News: Tom Lee Memphis
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