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Fannie Willis Johnson House

Introduction

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Built around 1908, this historic home is significant for being the home of one of the city's most influential figures of the early 20th century, Fannie Vick Willis Johnson. Johnson became a philanthropist, donating funds to several organizations in the city including the local YMCA. The house itself is further unique in terms architecture. It is an outstanding example of the Mission Revival style, which is somewhat rare in Mississippi. Notable features include overhanging eaves, a large porch at the front entrance with columns and a Mission-style parapet, and decorative sandstone elements. The house, which has been well preserved, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. It currently operates as a bed and breakfast inn and event venue called The Stained Glass Manor.

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The Fannie Willis Johnson House was built around 1908. An exceptional example of Mission Revival architecture, it was the home of Fannie Vick Willis Johnson, one of the city's most prominent figures of the early 20th century.

Plant, Sky, Building, Window

Backstory and Context

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Fannie Vick Willis Johnson was born in Madison County around 1863. Her parents were John Willis and Martha Vick, who was a descendant of the Vick family (the city is named after the family). Not much information is readily available about her childhood, but she married Junius Ward Johnson in 1887 and they lived on a plantation in Sharkey County for some time before settling in Vicksburg. As noted above, they built the house around 1908.

Junius passed away around 1919 and a few years later, Fannie built the downtown YMCA as a memorial to him and donated it to the city (it still stands at 821 Clay Street). The next year, she built another YMCA for the local African-American community three blocks away. She continued her philanthropic efforts by building a facility for the Salvation Army, an Episcopal church for the African-American community, a dormitory for All Saints College, and an orphanage. In recognition of her philanthropic efforts, the Vicksburg Rotary Club called her "the one who had done the most for Vicksburg." She passed away in 1931. After she died, the house became the Fannie Willis Johnson Protestant and Ladies Home and remained so until 1966 when it became a private residence. It is unclear when The Stained Glass Manor opened.

Sources

"A Brief History of Your Vicksburg YMCA." Vicksburg YMCA. Accessed February 1, 2021. http://vicksburgymca.com/about.html.

"Frances Vick Willis Johnson Obituary 1931." The Yazoo Herald. September 4, 1931. Retrieved from Newspapers.com. on February 1, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11660371/frances-vick-willis-johnson-obituary.

Miller, Mary Warren & Varnell, J. Neil. "Johnson, Fannie Wlllls, House." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. April 8, 1988. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/b99f7cd8-cda4-499b-a613-6ccfc7b992da.

Surrat, John. "Board approves bed and breakfast with some restrictions." The Vicksburg Post. March 3, 2020. https://www.vicksburgpost.com/2020/03/03/board-approves-bed-and-breakfast-with-some-restrictions.

"Women of Influence." The Historical Marker Database. Accessed February 1, 2021. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=115473.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Front_View_of_The_Fannie_Willis_Johnson_House_in_Vicksburg_Mississippi.jpg

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