In 1885, Phillip and Sarah Feld built a one-story frame house on the southeast corner of Main and Farmer streets. Completed in December, the house was built by Ryan and Brothers contractors for $2,500.  

Philip and his brother Sam owned a dry goods and commission merchant business. They came to the United States from Austria by way of England and settled in Vicksburg in the 1870s. Philip invested wisely in real estate and became independently wealthy. He was elected alderman and president of the Board of Trade (later Chamber of Commerce). Philip and Sarah had five children: Nicholas, Bernard, Ruby (Kaufman), Bridie (Moses), and Mabel (Grandfest).

On Dec. 21, 1904, the Main Street house burned and while newspaper articles about the event stated that it was a near total loss, Feld hired architects William Stanton and Son to design plans to divide the house in half, move the halves to the east on Main Street and add a story for each.  The houses were completed in June 1905 and the Felds moved into the west one and rented the east one. Philip died Nov. 11, 1913 of pneumonia at the age of 56. The funeral was from the house on Main Street. An obituary in The Vicksburg Post reported that Philip “took the deepest interest in the city’s affairs, which he managed with caution and honesty, just like his own.”  Mabel and Birdie continued to live in the house with their mother after their father died. 

By 1917, the house had become rental property and was the home of Harvey Grant, a clerk with the U.S. Engineers Vicksburg District, and Robert and Herminia Shirley. The Shirleys’ 14-month-old daughter died in April 1918 and the funeral was in the house. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Mendrop also lived in the house in 1918. From about 1921 to 1924, Fred and Lucy Mendrop lived there. He was the chief clerk with the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad. In 1925, the house was advertised for rent for $25. In 1927, Pete and Aurelia Henderson lived here and their 10-pound baby girl was delivered in the house Jan. 18, 1927, joining her two-year old brother. 

In 1929, the house was vacant, but apparently was the home of B. F. Lockert in 1930, as The Vicksburg Post reported that he had died in the icy waters of Steele’s Bayou and that he lived at 1310 Main Street.  

The house continued to have numerous occupants until 1956, when it was listed for sale for $5,960. Thereafter, it was again available for rent. The house has not been in good condition for a number of years, but now has new owners and will have a new lease on life by being rehabilitated. The other half of the Feld’s 1885 house, located at 1312, was demolished in the 1970s.  

Nancy Bell, Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation.