Bill Townsend has been hosting numerous events at the historic Annesdale Mansion just off Lamar Avenue and has plans to stage several more in the coming months before taking a summer break.

But in a twist that might surprise those who have watched the long-running feud between the Annesdale-Snowden Neighborhood Association and the former owner of the mansion, this time, the neighbors are just fine with the soirees.

Annesdale neighbors ‘a little nervous’

Ken Robison, the former owner who bought the five-story mansion in 2011 for $550,000, rented it out for weddings and other events with loud music, angering residents of the historic neighborhood. They eventually sued, leading in part to Robison’s decision to sell the mansion.

In May 2023, Townsend bought the 7-acre property with the 169-year-old mansion for $1.87 million and estimates he’s spent more than $250,000 in repairs and renovations to the home and grounds so far. 

“The previous owner had weddings and parties pretty much anytime there was nice weather. Spring, summer, fall. They would have outdoor parties with huge sound systems, which would rattle the windows of the neighbors who are really close,” said Tim Prudhomme, president of the neighborhood association and the owner of a home that abuts the back of the property. “In a lot of ways, we loved him. But it was just the noise, and he refused to take control of it.”

“Memphis needs a lot of help, and there’s a lot of families that have made some mistakes by pulling their investments out of Memphis and not taking care of their hometown.”

Bill Townsend
Annesdale Mansion

Townsend, who is also using the mansion as his primary Memphis residence, planned all along to use the space for events as a chance to “give back” to the city where he was born and raised. But instead of weddings and loud parties, he is using the mansion and its historic cache as a way to raise awareness and money for local charitable organizations and nonprofits.

“There’s always somebody out there that needs help,” said Townsend, 64. “So, one reason I bought this house was I wanted to be able to host a lot of charitable functions.”