Former Meridian businessman Fred H. Hulett is saying goodbye to “The Knoll,” a place he has called home for the last three decades.

    The statuesque Tudor Revival-style four-story mansion that has rested on a hill in the historic Poplar Springs District since the early 1900s will be up for sale in an Internet real estate auction, with bids to be taken Sep. 1 through Sept. 10.

    Handling the auction will be Taylor Auction & Realty, Inc., owned by Benny and Ruthie Taylor.

    “We at Taylor Auction are very excited Mr. Fred Hulett selected our firm to handle The Knoll mansion at Online Auction,” Benny Taylor said. “This online auction will feature some of the finest in French and period antiques that exemplify Mr. Hulett’s incredible attention to detail. His vast experience in decorating and worldwide travels are defined by this massive collection.”

    An interior designer and former owner of Hulett Furniture Company, Hulett said The Knoll intrigued him even at an early age.

    “I lived just a few blocks away from here when I was a young boy,” Hulett said. “Every time I passed the house I was always in awe of it.”

    Hulett said it wasn’t until the early 70s, the dream of owning the home became a reality.

    “I was a guest at a party in the home after it had been restored by J. Cliff Watts,” Hulett said. “I was totally blown away by the details, furnishings, and ambience of the house. I thought then if it ever went on market, I wanted to buy it and one year later it did. I came to the auction a little anxious,  but I was a successful bidder.”

    Along with the home, Hulett will auction off his life-long collection of antiques and accessories he has accumulated over the years from England, France and Italy. The home also has items from Regency House Antiques, an antique shop in New Orleans Hulett owned.

    “One of the things I’ve enjoyed over the years was buying pieces for this house,” Hulett said. “Every piece has been carefully selected, and a lot of thought was put into what I bought before I made the purchase.”

    Hulett said some of the items in the auction will include an Adams Period Mahogany double breakfast bookcase, Ribbon Oak Jacobean dining room table from Amsterdam, 14 matching Jacobean chairs, a pair of 18th Century Louis XVII beds, rugs, oil paintings, glassware, porcelains, cloisonne, leather bound books, and much more.

    “I particularly enjoy the dining room and having functions in there,” Hulett said. “The Jacobean dining room table is about 400 years old, and has a really interesting history. What is so wonderful about this house, there are so many built-ins like benches, seats, leaded glass cabinets, mirrors and architectural bookcases.”

    Of all the rooms in the house, Hulett said the breakfast area is his favorite.

    “It is just so comfy and cozy in there,” Hulett said. “Because of the way the light comes through the windows at different times of the day, makes it a relaxing place to enjoy.”

    Hulett said he has made many memories and entertained in the home but one that stands out as the most famous was the 9-9-99 party.

    “I had a great party that started at 9 o’clock and you had to dress to the nines,” Hulett said. “I had a band, and a lot of people came up from New Orleans. It was a wonderful, fun party.”

    Hulett said the home was also the setting for many events for the Mississippi Heart Association, the Meridian Symphony Orchestra, Meridian Museum of Art, Meridian Little Theatre, and other local charities.

    “It has always been gratifying to let other groups in Meridian have functions here,” Hulett said. “Anyone that ever comes here has had a good time and enjoyed the house.”

    Hulett said of all the questions he has been asked about the home, one stands out the most.

    “A lot of people want to know about the bowling alley,” he said. “It’s one-lane and it was engineered ao that when you roll the ball, it gains enough momentum to climb the rail and come to a stop. It doesn’t have automatic pin setters so that has to be done by someone.”

    After being the caretaker of The Knoll for more than 30 years, Hulett said he decided to sell the home after closing Hulett Furniture and his antique business in New Orleans.

    “I decided to retire and move to New Orleans, and I really felt like it was time for someone else to be caretaker of the house,” Hulett said. “I wouldn’t be here to live in it, or maintain it.”

    Hulett said he is really excited about his future plans and travels.

    “I plan to travel a lot. I most recently spent the last two months in Europe,” Hulett said. “I have a bucket list of things I want to do, and places I want to see, so I plan to spend a good portion of my life traveling.”

    “When I am not traveling, I will live in New Orleans, he said, “I have a condo in Florida, and am in the process of buying one in Oxford, so I will spend a lot of time in each of these three places, and grow old gracefully.”

    Hulett said he will still visit Meridian from time to time, because his family and friends are here, and so are his roots.

    “I will be coming back for different things, and I hate to say this but you have to come back for weddings and funerals,” Hulett said. “I have a lot of wonderful friends that live here, and I plan to stay in touch with them. I’m just a simple boy with simple tastes.”

    As for advice for the new caretaker, whomever that may be, Hulett said, “It’s a great house, so be a careful custodian of the house. It doesn’t take care of itself. Just love it and take care of it.”

     The Knoll Owners

    The Knoll was built in the 1900s by M.R. Grant, who was in the material building business. According to Hulett, Grant also developed the Marion Park subdivision, which was named after his daughter.

    After a few years Grant sold it to Walter D. and Annie Laurie Meads around 1912.  It was the Meads, who were very active in community affairs, who named the house The Knoll. Among many of Mrs. Mead’s accomplishments was the organization of the Junior Fortnightly Club, the first junior club in Mississippi.

    Mr, Meads owned and operated a lumber company, served as Potentate of the Hamasa Shrine Temple and among other civic, cultural and philanthropic endeavors, assisted financially with the building of the First Presbyterian Church.

    The Meads sold the house to J,W, Sanders in 1925. It was purchased in the 1950s by the Veterans of Foreign War for use as a clubhouse. However, this proved unsatisfactory because of the parking problem and complaints from neighbors.

    The home was later bought by Charles Mosby, who, along with his family, lived there until his death in 1970. The Knoll was then sold to a family who lived there only a few months before leaving for an extended tour of the United States.

    In 1972, the house was owned by John and Sara Smith.

    The Knoll facts

    • Historic Tudor Revival Mansion

    • It is 12,000 square feet with four stories, featuring 24 major rooms on 1.19-plus acres.

    • There are 13 fireplaces and two bars

    • The house feature 24 major rooms, including a French parlor, a gentleman’s smoking room, a Library, a music room, a formal dining room     

    • It has a one-lane bowling alley

    • The house also includes numerous bedrooms and baths on the second floor