Memphis: Then and Now
Memphis has changed dramatically from its days as a rowdy river town in the early 1800’s to the city of commerce and distribution we have today. The cobblestones are vacant of the cotton bales of the 1800’s. The sounds of the street corner jug bands playing on Beale Street are silent. The grand houses that once lined Vance, Union, and Beale are gone. Of these, all we have left are the images left by photographers, who documented for us a time and place in the history of Memphis.
Memphis Levee, 1906. The laying of the Cobblestone landing began in the 1850’s and continued until the late 1880’s. The landing was a hub of activity with cotton being loaded on riverboats on their way to the factories in England and the American Northeast.
Memphis Levee, 2005. What to do with the historic cobblestone landing is a source of debate between the preservationists who wish to preserve its historic value and the commercial interests who want to take advantage of its location and marketability for many years.
Memphis Bluffs, 1933. The area was for many years the city dumping ground. Bluff cave-ins were frequent occurrences until the Corps of Engineers stabilized the bluff in the 1930’s. Work began on Riverside Drive in the mid 1930’s. The area was graded and fill was added from dredges in the river.
Riverside Drive, 2005. Today Riverside Drive is one of the most scenic streets in Memphis. Tom Lee Park, on the left, was expanded in the 1990’s and is the site for the annual Memphis in May Festival. Many fine homes overlook the river from the South Bluffs community, located on the right.
Cotton Signs, 1939. Front Street was known as Cotton Row for the numerous cotton merchants located in the area. The Bernstein Cotton Company was located on Union for over 60 years.
Front and Union, 2005. Today many of the cotton brokers have moved out east with their original buildings being renovated into condominiums, stores and offices.
Beale Street Jug Band, 1937. Performing on the corner of Beale and Hernando are one of the Beale streets famous jug bands. They were called jug bands because usually one of the musicians played a jug. Other instruments included a banjo, guitar, clarinet, and washboard.
Pat O’Briens, 2005. The location was for many years Greeners department store. In 2005 the property was occupied by Pat O’Briens, bringing a little New Orleans to Beale Street.
Market House, 1905. Built in 1899 as a market for a variety of businesses including groceries, dentists, barbers, and shoemakers, the Beale Street Market was one-stop shopping for residents of the famous neighborhood.
Handy Park, 2005. The Market House was razed in 1930 to make way for a public park in honor of W.C. Handy. A statue of Handy was added in 1960, and for many years, the park was host to local musicians and jug bands. In 1998 the park was reconfigured with a modern stage and gift shop. Today the sounds of the blues can still be heard echoing down Beale.