From the pages of the Memphis Press-Scimitar

Feeling nostalgic for the good old days? Nothing like a random trip through the local newspaper archives to make you wanna bury that nostalgia in a shallow grave.

But it's still fun. I've attached a couple of things I found during some research. Both are from 1937.

A Creative Vortex of Memphis

Southern and Semmes might have a special creative energy, because the only 2 institutions¹at that intersection are models of versatility and ingenuity.

First, directly on the corner, south of the railroad, there's Elmore Carpets and African Imports, owned by Anthony "Amp" Elmore. I've long admired Mr. Elmore's versatility: he is a carpet impresario, an importer, a kickboxing champion and teacher, a proud Buddhist and a filmmaker.



To the northeast and across Southern, New Olivet Baptist Church is presided over by the Reverend Kenneth Whalum, Jr. Reverend Whalum, in addition to the church, leads its celebrated choir, has developed the innovative entrepeneurship program called Bust A Move Monday (BAMM!), won a seat on the City School Board (he's a big supporter of art in the schools), and (my favorite) puts great sermon teasers on his church marquee (in both English and Spanish). My favorite, which is coming from my memory, so it could be wrong: "Was Jesus Sipping on the E&J?" In fact, the teasers are so great (here's another one) that I think Rev. Whalum could raise money for his many endeavors with a coffee-table book, if he has pictures of all of them.

¹Okay, this isn't completely true. A brick wall on the northern side of Southern protects innocent and unwary passersby from the exclusivist, hierarchist and monocultured embrace of the Memphis Country Club, just 25 yards away as the drunken shank flies.

south of Southern

The Commercial Appeal ran a story Saturday morning about the University of Memphis' plans for a new nursing building. The University's choice of location -- the South Campus.

The University has owned that huge underused parcel, formerly known as the Kennedy Hospital, since 1966. (See photo outlined in green -- lots o' space).


Yet during this time it's expanded primarily north across Central into an established, architecturally sound neighborhood. They acquired, then demolished, many fine homes for this northward push. (See photo with red outline. The outline marks what the university has acquired and with a few exceptions, bulldozed).
And with nary an exception, they replaced each house with something far, far, far away uglier. This includes the Central surface parking lots, the banal student dormitories that border Poplar and the hyper-bland Holiday Inn. They did save many of the mature trees, but everything else -- "kaboom!"

Meanwhile, the South Campus has remained largely unused. And the area surrounding has declined. Crime has increased, in the commercial areas especially. The University, by finally turning their interest southward, can really help stabilize the area. They have a lot of undeveloped land that doesn't have to be seized or bulldozed. The presence of more students, faculty and staff will give adjoining neighborhoods confidence about the future. And a beautiful structure would be a catalyst for other improvements.

If we can diminish the Central neighborhood with bad architecture, we can improve the Sherwood Forest, Audubon Park and Cherry/Quince neighborhoods with great architecture.