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Eureka Hotel
- 212 S. Third
- 356 Mulberry
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Memphis Heritage helped save this 120-year old house with a forgotten
history from the wrecker's ball. The red brick Victorian
was once an upscale hotel for African
Americans.
Henry and Cheri Rudner had recently inherited the property and were preparing
to demolish it. The building was just a shadow of its
former self- the upper porch and roof were gone and it had
been stripped of much of its interior woodwork.
But the Rudners didn't know its true history. A listing
discovered in a 1943 directory proclaimed: "Eureka Hotel, Memphis'
Oldest and Best Colored Hotel". Apparently, some great musicians had
stayed there when performing in Memphis. Rumor even had it that Duke
Ellington was at the Eureka when he wrote "Sophisticated Lady".
Henry and Cheri Rudner called off the demolition. |
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JULY 2011 ... update
Too late!!!
So much for
those "good intentions". Another Memphis Landmark bites
the dust. Another piece of Memphis History is lost forever.
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European Hotel
- Winter's European .
Sturla's Hotel (See Sturla's below)
. 370
Main -112-116 S. Main |
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The EUROPEAN Hotel is listed in the
1876-1884 Memphis Directories. Originally located at 274 2nd
Street. it moved to 370 Main in 1882.
At various times 4 to 5 hotels have occupied this building.
The rooms were probably located on the upper floors. And two
hotels may have occupied the building at one time - possibly sharing
the reception. There were 45 rooms at the hotel.
STURLA's Hotel is listed in the 1889-1892 Memphis Directory at 370
Main. The name changed to Sturla's European
in 1891. In 1905 the Memphis numbering system changed 370 Main to
112-116 S. Main. The Sturla's Euopean listing continues to 1909.
WINTER'S European is listed in 1893-1904
Memphis Directories. In the 1904 Directory the name changes to
Winter's Stag Hotel at 163 S. Main - listed for one year only.
Rates
in 1906 at Sturla's European were: Singles 50-75 cents.
Doubles $1-$1.50. Meals A-La-Carte.
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Winter's European 1900 |
Winter's European |
Winter's European |
European Ad 1876 |
Sturla's Token |
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One or more of the hotels mentioned above may have a connection with the Waldorf
Cafe and/or The Mivelaz Hotel at 112-116 S. Main. In 1909 "The
NEW Waldorf Hotel and Cafe" is listed at the 112-116 S. Main address.
The photos on the right show the corner building around 1909. >
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112-116 S. Main |
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Fransioli Hotel
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80 S. 2nd and Union |
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The
Fransioli Hotel was in existence from 1883 to 1925 at the corner of
2nd and Union. It had 4 floors and 100 "large and airy rooms".
The elevator was an open iron-grill type. In 1919 the hotel
was sold to the Hallidays who operated the Gayoso. Later it
was sold to the Southern Hotel Co who tore it down in 1925 and built
the "new" Peabody Hotel on the site. The Fransioli
existed for such a long period of time and was considered the best
hotel in early Memphis. It is so closely associated with The
Peabody that one can't really discuss the Peabody history without
mentioning The Fransioli. In 1906 there were 108 rooms -
American Plan $2.50 for one, $2 for two. |
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Fransioli Hotel |
Fransioli Lobby and
Elevator |
Fransioli Entrance Detail |
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Ad 1916 |
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Fransioli Envelope 1888 |
Fransioli Vintage Key - Fork |
Hotel Ad 1900 |
P. Fransioli 1903 |
Fransioli Envelope 1915 |
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1889 Fransioli
Envelope |
Letter, Page 1 |
Letter, Page 2 |
Letter, Page 3 |
Letter, Page 4. |
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1889 letter ... Very interesting 4 page letter from a gentleman
staying at the Fransioli, to a cousin in Virginia. He's asking
his cousin to consider buying half interest in a store and/or
some acerage that might be available in the near future. Easy to
read handwriting... |
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Gaston's
Hotel
-
33-35 S. Court -
27-35 Court - 107 - 111 Court Av (Renumbering in
1905) |
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Ever hear
of Gaston's Hotel? Memphians know about the John Gaston
Hospital, but Gaston's hotel?
Gaston opened his hotel in 1878 and it closed about 1916.
It was a highly rated
and popular hotel and by 1883, and had such amenities as a bar,
barber shop and billiard parlor, in addition to 100 rooms for
guests. Gaston's establishment became the place to be for
movers and shakers who often met at the hotel to discuss business
arrangements. And then there were the celebrities, such as
Oscar Wilde, who were a common sight here. The hotel actually
grew out of the more famous Gaston's Restaurant which opened first
on Court Avenue. In 1906 the Gaston had 75 rooms - European
Plan - $1 per day for one person or $2 for two. Meals
were 50 cents.
The name was originally
Gaston's European Hotel. The "European" was dropped in 1883.
The final address was 107-111 Court, about 1906.
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Gaston's Hotel 1911 |
Gaston's Hotel with the blue roof |
Gaston's
Hotel Envelope 1895 |
John Gaston
Hotel |
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John
Gaston |
John
Gaston Marker |
Gaston 1870 Directory
Ad |
Gaston building
today |
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*
The Gaston Hotel has
its own comprehensive coverage on another page of this website >
Click here |
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Gehring Hotel - 333 1/2 Main -
182-84 Main -Union (Re-numbering 1905) - 82 Union. |
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The
Gehring Hotel sign shows on the left in this postcard of
Memphis' Main Street (below). This hotel is listed
in the Memphis Directories as early as 1898 at 333 1/2 Main,
but around 1908 the address changed to 182-84 Main which is
the earlier address of the Cochran Hotel. They obviously
moved to the Cochran building. In 1918 they moved to 82
Union. See the aerial photo below for
this Main Street location. The Gehring
is listed in the directories
from 1898 - 1928. In 1906, the Gehring had 75
rooms - European Plan which does not include meals.
Rooms cost $1 for one person, $1.50 for two. Meals
35 cents. |
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Thanks Mo Thoni White for
finding the postcard. |
Hotel
Gehring -1910 |
Advertising
in 1908 Directory |
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George Vincent Hotel
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Blackstone Hotel . 855 Union Avenue |
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Very little information
is available for the mid-city George Vincent Hotel. The
building was originally the Lucy Brinkley Hospital for Women.
It was converted to the Blackstone Hotel in the late 1930s, and
became the George Vincent Hotel around 1948. Those who remember
the George Vincent, think of it
primarily because each Christmas it set up a huge display of papier
mache figures of the Nativity on a small lawn next to the hotel. |
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George Vincent Hotel |
Lucy Brinkley Hospital
1926 |
Nativity Scene |
Matchbooks |
Lobby 1948 |
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Green Tree House
- 351-355 Front St |
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The Green Tree
House is listed in the Memphis Directories as early as
1865 up to 1916. That's
51 years. When
a hotel lasts this long, we wonder why we can't find a
photo or more information about it. The
advertising below, appeared in the 1900 Directory and
there is a drawing of the hotel and the Front Street
address.
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Ad from 1903
Directory |
1876 Ad |
Ad from 1872
Directory |
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Jefferson Hotel -
See Read Hotel or
St. Nicholas Hotel below... |
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Lehner
House -
2nd-Washington. Listed
in the 1867-74 Directories |
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Ad
from 1868 Directory |
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Lincoln Hotel
- 315 1/2 Beale
Listed in the 1911 - 1921 Memphis Directories.
J. H. Rice, Manager. The Lincoln Hotel was located
next to the famous P.Wee Saloon, and across the street
from Battiers Drug Store on Beale Street. |
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Lincoln Hotel |
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Longinotti Hotel
- Manhattan Hotel
... 489 Main . 299 S. Main
(Re-numbering in 1905)
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Listed in
the 1897-1945 Memphis Directories. The
3 story building with basement hotel was built in 1895 by the
brothers August and James Longinotti. They also made and
distributed whiskey from the hotel. The hotel was
located at 299 S. Main. In 1948 to 1951, the Manhattan
Hotel and Cafe occupied the Longinotti building, until it
closed in 1954. A fire in 1961 heavily damaged the upper
floors and they were removed, leaving the ground floor, as it
is today. 24 Rooms, American Plan.
In 1906, rates were $1.50 single, $1.50 for double.
Thanks to Great, Great Granddaughter Jennifer Canale Ireland, we now have that elusive
photo of the Longinotti Hotel along with additional
information. |
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Longinotti Building
c.1951 |
Longinotti Building
today |
Longinotti Family .1907 |
James Longinotti
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Obit |
Longinotti whiskey |
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Longinotti Hotel c. 1904 |
August 1912 |
Casey Jones Ltr |
Pitcher |
Desiree |
Law Suit |
Manhattan Hotel |
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Longinotti Home
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Home 2013 |
Olivia Longinotti |
Article 1 & 2 |
Home - today |
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Yocono Club Ad |
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Longinotti Crock |
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Lorraine Motel-Hotel
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See
Windsor Hotel
- Marquette Hotel - Lorraine Hotel
below... |
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Luehrmann Hotel
- 314 Main - 296 Main at Madison.
- 10 S.
Main (Re-numberting in 1905) |
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The Luehrmann
Hotel was listed in
the 1889-1906 Memphis Directories. In 1905 the
number changed to 10 S. Main. In 1906 the Luehrmann had 25 rooms - European plan. Rooms cost
$1 up, per person. Restaurant a la carte.
Proprietor Luehrmann was a prominent brewer as well as hotel
owner. The hotel burned in 1910.
The hotel was the
upper 3 floors, with only 38 rooms - reserved for men only,
although some women in fine clothes appeared at intervals.
The fortune it took to build and equip this magnificent
establishment came largely from beer, in particular Schlitz
Beer. |
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Luehrmann's |
Luehrmann's
1906 |
Luehrmann's
1908 |
Luehrmann's
restaurants |
Henry Luehrmann |
Tokens |
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Luehrmann's was a
splendid place for leisurely dining.
There were 135 kinds of wine and the seafood was
very fresh.
Henry Luehrmann bought only live lobsters, crabs,
and oysters to be fattened in his basement, where
he personally fed them. In the restaurant,
the waiters wore tails. Napkins and
tablecloths were made of thick linen, embossed with
Luehrmann's crest and logo.
This Restaurant and Gaston's
Restaurant, around the corner, were the two most
popular restaurants for fine dining in Memphis.
And Luehrmann's had the highest prices in town. |
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Creamer
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*
The Luehrmann
Hotel-Restaurant has
comprehensive coverage on another page of the website > Click here |
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Majestic Hotel
- 174-190 Linden Listed
in the 1914 - 1948 Directories . 3 story building with
66 rooms |
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Majestic
Hotel - 1899 Ad |
1914 Directory Ad |
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Mitchell's Hotel
- 195 Hernando-Beale . Annex 84 Calhoun . 180 Hernando
. 162 Hernando |
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Listed in the 1945-58 Memphis Directories as a "Colored
Hotel". This hotel opened in 1944 and was known as the
"Leading Colored Hotel of Memphis". It was located on
the 3rd floor , above the old Pantaze Drug Store, on Beale. The
2nd floor was occupied by Club Handy, which was
the last club on Beale to book headline acts.
Many Blues Musicians called the Mitchell "Home".
Today the Pantaze-Mitchell building on Beale has been
renovated and was the home of the Center for Southern
Folklore, but is now the home of "Wet Willie's".
The hotel had many nearby annexes. |
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Pantaz
Drugs - 1970
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Pantaz
Drugs |
1957
Phone Directory Ad |
Pantaz-Mitchell
Hotel today. |
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Mivelaz Hotel
...a hotel mystery - Main
Street |
This hotel
represents a mystery. The Mivelaz family is closely
associated with the hotel business in Little Rock, although
Leo Mivelaz and his wife died in Memphis. There is no
listing of the Mivelaz Hotel in any Memphis Directory, yet the
Mivelaz Hotel sign appears in several famous photos above the
Waldorf Cafe on Main Street. In 1899 the
Mivelaz, L.L. Restaurant is listed at 352 Main and the Waldorf
Restaurant is also listed at 352 Main. In 1900, both of these
restaurants are again listed separately, but at the same
address. In 1905 after the numbering system changes, Leo Mivelaz is
listed as the proprietor of a restaurant at 112 Main (that's
the address of Sturla's Hotel). In 1906 there is a
listing for Waldorf Cafe Hotel with 24 rooms at 112 Main. In 1908 there is a Mivelaz Restaurant listed at 17 N. Main. In 1909 the New
Waldorf Hotel and Cafe opens at 112-116 S. Main.
We suspect that the "Waldorf" and "Mivelaz"
cafe-hotels might be the same? |
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Monarch
Hotel
-
165 S. Main .
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The Monarch Hotel is
listed in the Memphis Directories from 1940-1958. It was a
small hotel located a couple of doors from the Princess Theatre and
an alley between it and the Gayoso. The building was
demolished in 1971. |
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Monarch |
Monarch Demo 1971 |
Vintage Key |
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Overton Hotel
- Main and Poplar |
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The Overton Hotel
was getting ready to open when the Civil War began.
During the war both sides used the building, as a hospital and
as quarters. After the war ended, it officially opened
as a hotel in 1866. In 1874 the hotel was sold to Shelby
County and was used as a Courthouse until 1919. The city
removed the top floor and created two towers at both ends.
The Courthouse building was demolished in 1925 and Memphis
Ellis Auditorium was built on the space. This hotel is
listed in the 1867-1874 Memphis Directories. |
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Overton with top
floor |
1910 Overton Hotel |
1867 Overton Hotel |
Overton Hotel |
Courthouse 1906 |
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The Grand Duke
of Russia stayed at the Overton in 1872 and a grand ball
was held in his honor. A special train brought his
entourage from Louisville to Memphis. |
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Grand Duke Alexis |
Invitation to Grand
Ball |
Special train
from Louisville to Memphis - 1872 |
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Overton-Courthouse Photo |
1867 Article |
1863
Hospital |
Hospital
Envelope - 1865 |
1865
Letter |
1865 Letter
continued |
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Pagoda House -
Palmer House - Oxford House ... 232 S. Main
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In the Pagoda Ad,
below, at the top, side
of building, there is a sign which appears to be "Palmer House".
In the 1910 - 1913 Memphis directory, the hotel at this address is listed as
Palmer House. In 1914 the directory it is listed as
Pagoda House, so there was a name change. The name changed again to
OXFORD Rooming House in the 1919 to 1924 Directories. |
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Pagoda - Palmer House |
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Oxford House |
Oxford House |
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Plaza Hotel
- 216 E. Calhoun |
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Listed in the
1913-1958 Directories - across from Union Station.
"For Colored" |
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Pontotoc Hotel
- 69 Pontotoc (S. Main - 1 block from the
river).
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Built in
1906, the Pontotoc Hotel flourished as a fine European
style hotel, complete with Turkish Bath. By
1920 the hotel became one of the areas best known
bordellos. Still listed in the Memphis Directories
up to 1940. In 1929 George Touliatas, purchased the hotel,
moved in, and then
actors and performers began to stay there. His
family lived there until 1969, at which time the hotel
was sold to Bob Kapos. Leigh Davis purchased the
hotel in 1980 and established residence in July 1981.
This hotel
is first listed in the 1916 Memphis Directory and is
listed up to 1958. |
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Email from
Leigh Davis:
"...
Interesting tid-bits: George Touliatas Jr. was born at
the Pontotoc and his younger brother, Plato, born at the
hospital, followed him home a couple of years later.
George Jr. told me the story of how he and Plato would take a
wagon down South Main to the train station to "haul" back
grapes that his father used to make wine. Every year,
George St. shared a boxcar of grapes with a few Greek friends
and the boys would make several trips with their wagon to
collect his share of the grapes. Many trips...as George
Jr. stated. Mexican artist, Dionicio Rodriguez, creator
of the Crystal Shrine Grotto in Memorial Park Cemetery, lived
at the Pontotoc for almost seven years, while creating his
work at Memorial Park. (...I have yet to uncover a
crystal at the Pontotoc!). My son, James Jr., born in
1983, was 2 days old when we brought him home from the
hospital. He now has his own studio apartment in the
Hotel. During those early days, I would walk and he
would ride his trycycle from home to Beale Street, to have
lunch at Ronnie Grisanti's restaurant. Not many have
done that! He has lived his entire life in Downtown.
(so far) ... I am happy to be included in the history.
The Pontotoc has a wonderful karma and presence".
- Leigh
Davis ... November 24, 2013 |
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Pullman Hotel
- 520 S. Main .
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The Pullman Hotel
is Listed in the 1917- 1958 Memphis Directories. Built in 1912, this hotel was
named for the Pullman railroad sleeper cars, and was one of
the numerous small hotels near Central and Union Stations.
Passengers as well as railroad workers frequented these
hotels. Most of the buildings in the South Main
Historical District are now used as private residences. |
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Queen
Anne Hotel - 228 Vance
Hotel Queen Anne
is listed "For Colored Only" in the 1951-1958 Memphis
Directories. No other information. |
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Read Hotel .
Jefferson Hotel - St. Nicholas Hotel
- 146 N. Main SE corner
Main-Washington
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This
hotel building goes back to at least 1898, and probably longer. Click on the left postcard
(below) and you'll see "Hotel READ" just below the lighted Dinstuhl's candy store sign on the left side of the photo. The
Read Hotel is listed in the 1907-1914 Memphis Directories and The Jefferson
Hotel is listed in the 1914-1940 Memphis Directories - same address.
In the photos above the Read Hotel is identified on the left, and
the Jefferson Hotel is identified in the photo on the right.
Not sure when the name changed.
Look closely at the
two buildings and you'll see that they are the same. We
now know that before this building was the Read or Jefferson Hotels,
it was the St. Nicholas Hotel, which is listed here from 1881-1887,
and again in 1892-1906. This
corner no longer exists. It's where the Civic Center is now
located.
See St. Nicholas
Hotel, below.
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Read Hotel |
Jefferson Hotel |
Read-Jefferson-St Nicholas |
Read-Jefferson-St.Nickolas |
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St. Nicholas Hotel
- Read Hotel . Jefferson Hotel .
194 Main .Corner Main-Washington . |
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The St. Nicholas
Hotel is listed in the
1881-1887 Memphis Directories and again from 1892-1906. We now know that the St.
Nicholas building pictured on this envelope later became
the READ HOTEL around 1908, and later the JEFFERSON
HOTEL around 1914. (See photo of Read Hotel above).
This corner no longer exists. It's where the Civic
Center is now located. |
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Envelope
postmarked 1897 |
1894 Ad |
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1884 Ad |
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Sturla's Hotel
- Sturla's European
. 370
Main - 112-116 S. Main |
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.
Hotel is listed in the 1889-1892 Memphis Directory at 370
Main. The name changed to Sturla's European
in 1891. In 1905 the Memphis numbering system changed 370 Main to
112-116 S. Main. The Sturla's Euopean listing continues to 1909.
Rates
in 1906 at Sturla's European were: Singles 50-75 cents.
Doubles $1-$1.50. Meals A-La-Carte.
See EUROPEAN HOTEL above
John, Frank, and Jacob were the businessmen of the large Italian
Sturla family. At various times, from the early 1860's they owned or
ran, restaurants, saloons, hotels, Upholstery Businesses, and
Furniture, Carpets, and Household Goods . Their Oyster House and
Saloon was located at 337 Main Street and Union Av. The
Sturla's married into the Canale Family. |
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Sturla Building |
Sturla Token |
Sturla Token c. 1875 |
Sturla Ad 1871 |
Sturla Ad 1880 |
Sturla Ad 1882 |
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Tri-State Hotel
- 362 S. Main |
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The Tri-State
Hotel was listed in the 1940 to 1958 directories. Another
of the budget hotels near the train station. |
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Tri-State Hotel |
Tri-State Hotel |
3 Hotels... |
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Waldorf Hotel and Cafe
- 112-116 Main at Gayoso
Listed in the
Memphis Directories for the first time in 1909, continuing
through 1928, picking up again in 1937 for 2 years. The
Waldorf Cafe was rather famous and located for many years at
94 S. Main and before that at 352 Main. Sturla's Hotel was located at 112-116 Main.
The two may have merged to become "Waldorf Hotel and Cafe".
In 1906 there was a "Waldorf Cafe Hotel" on Main, with
25 rooms. Rates were $1.50, singles, $1.00, Doubles.
American Plan. The hotel-cafe is listed at this
address from 1910-1918. |
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1915 Ad
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Windsor Hotel
- Mecca Hotel - Park Hotel
- 37 Court (119
Court) . Main at Washington ?? |
The Windsor Hotel is listed In the 1904-1906 directories
at 37 Court. It's opposite Court Square and
next to the Gaston Hotel. The "Windsor" vertical sign appears
in the 1906 photo below. In 1906 this hotel had 40 rooms
- Rooms 75 cents to $1.00. American Plan -
Singles $1.50, Doubles $1.25. In
1910, the Windsor building became the MECCA HOTEL.
The name changed again to PARK HOTEL, which is listed at
119 Court in the 1911-1914 directories. The Memphis street
numbers changed in 1905-6. The Park Hotel sign
shows in the Vintage postcard below.
This building still exists - it's a Bank on the ground
floor with apartments above.
This is not the same
Windsor Hotel which later became the Lorraine Hotel-Motel.
There was an earlier
listing for Windsor Hotel at Main-Washington in the
1892-1895 directories. It's probably the same
hotel and may have occupied the same building as the St.
Nicholas Hotel, which later became the Read Hotel, and
later the Jefferson Hotel. |
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Windsor - 1906 |
Windsor
Postcard |
Park Hotel - Sign |
Windsor-Park today |
Windsor-Park today |
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Windsor Hotel
-
Marquette Hotel - Lorraine Hotel - Lorraine Motel
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Mulberry and
Huling
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Lorraine Hotel and Annex |
Lorraine Hotel |
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The first hotel on this site was the
16 room Windsor Hotel built on the northern side of the complex
around 1925. It was later renamed the Marquette Hotel. Walter
Bailey purchased it in 1945 and renamed it for his wife Loree and
the song
Sweet Lorraine. During
segregation it was an upscale
accommodation that catered to a black clientele. Bailey added a second
floor and then drive up access for more rooms converting the name
from Lorraine Hotel to Lorraine Motel. Its guests included
Ray Charles,
Lionel Hampton,
Aretha Franklin,
Ethel Waters,
Otis Redding, and The
Staple Singers. |
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The Lorraine Motel complex become the
National Civil Rights Museum after the assassination of
Dr. Martin Luther King. |
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Lorraine Motel |
Lorraine
Marker |
Key
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Winona Hotel
- Arcade Hotel
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110 E. Calhoun |
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The Winona Hotel is listed in the
1913 to 1939 Memphis Directories at 108-110 E. Calhoun. The first photo below is the Winona in 1918.
The photo depicts 1300 African Americans outside the
Central Station at Calhoun and Main. They have
been drafted to serve in WW1. The sign on the side reads "....A HOTEL". The
hotel was owned or managed by Luke Casey, and may have
also housed a speakeasy in its later days. The
Winona closed around 1937 and moved to 516 S. Main.
It's listed at that address for 3 years. After
the Winona moved from Calhoun, the Arcade Hotel took over the building
and remained there up to 1961 - perhaps later. The decaying
Arcade Hotel was featured prominently in the
1989 movie "Mystery Train". The building was demolished in 1993,
shortly after the completion of the film.
See Arcade Hotel, above.
In their
1990 book "Memphis, an architectural guide", architects
Johnson and Russell describe the Winona-Arcade, "One
of the best buildings in the Beale to Crump district,
the Arcade Hotel has a ground floor topped by a
horizontal tin garland held up by huge brackets. Above
the garland, the pilasters have frames that stop just
under the arches on top to do a little geometric jig.
Under the splendid tin arches, complete with
egg-and-dart mouldings, are roundels, made of red and
white brick, that comes straight from fifteenth-century
Italian architecture. There's a lot of joy in this
facade". |
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Email
from Preston Sisk, 11/2012:
"... My late father
told me some wonderful stories that happened at
the Winona when he lived there during 1930-31
after his parents lost their house during the
Depression. The hotel was owned or managed
by Luke Casey, and apparently had a speakeasy in
it. His stories included the information
that he was not allowed to enter the speakeasy,
but that the hotel also had a good restaurant.
There was an African-American man who worked at
the hotel, and my dad was most impressed by his
strength - the man could bend a railroad spike
with his bare hands". The photo (left) may
have been taken at the Winona "...some time
between 1928-1935. My grandmother's sister
would have been visiting from Arkansas. The
lady on the right is my grandmother, Maude Wenzler,
Her sister, Berthat Mae Sisk is on the left.
The only identifiable landmark is the awning ...
of a Piggly-Wiggly Store. I wonder whether
there was a Piggly-Wiggly near the Winona"? |
Winona c.
1930's
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Webmaster's Response: I believe your
grandmother and her sister might be outside the Winona
Hotel under the Hotel's canopy. The taller
building in the background on the opposite side of the
street could be the Stratton-Warren Hardware Co ...
because it was across from the Winona and it's about the
right number of floors and has the right window
arrangements. To the right of the Winona, next
door, were 2 low rise, small buildings and one of them
would have been the right size for the standard Piggly-Wiggle
store"
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Winter's European Hotel
- See EUROPEAN HOTEL above... |
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Worsham House
- American (US) Hotel . Apium
House. Duffy's European . Arlington Hotel.
. Main
-Adams |
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This hotel was
listed in the Memphis Directories from 1855 to 1905.
The hotel was owned by John Worsham and described in a
1860 book: "This place (Memphis) supports two
large hotels, of which the Worsham House is said to be
the best. It is neat, well-appointed and kept-an
excellent table, and polite attendance. Mr.
Worsham, the landlord, is an agreeable gentleman, and
superintends this fine establishment, and is ever on the
look-out to make his guest comfortable."
"The building has a frontage on Main Street of 75 feet,
and a depth on Adams of 150 feet. The parlor is
large and handsomely furnished. There are 66
sleeping apartments for the accommodation of the guests
of the house, well ventilated, nicely furnished and
strictly neat and clean. the dining room has a
seating capacity of 100. Connected with the
establishment are a fine bar, billiard-room barber shop
and bath rooms. Fourteen male and six female
employees are required. The house is fitted out in
the most thorough manner, with all modern improvements
and conveniences, gas, water-closets, etc. Every
department of the house is in complete repair, and no
pains or expense are spared by the proprietor and his
assistants to make the sojourn of their guests pleasant
and agreeable." The Worsham closed
in 1887. Later, the ARLINGTON HOTEL will occupy
this building up to 1916 - maybe later.
The hotel opened in 1848 and was first named the
AMERICAN HOTEL. From 1855 to 1859, the hotel was called
APIUN HOUSE.
See Arlington Hotel and Duffy's
European Hotel, above |
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Ad from 1880
Directory |
Ad from 1885
Directory |
Worsham
House Trade Card - 1880 |
Trade Card - 1885 |
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Ad
showing Worsham
Sign |
1855
Apium House Ad |
1860 Ad |
John J.
Worsham |
Worsham
Token |
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1855
Apiun -1 859 Worsham |
Worsham House 1880 |
1883
Article |
Worsham House Proprie |
Worsham House Proprietor |
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<
This photo of the Arlington
Hotel shows it occupying the same building as the earlier Worsham Hotel
drawings. The portrait, above is John
Jennings Worsham in his civil War Uniform.
The token, above is for the Worsham Hotel Cigar
Stand. It is brass and about the size of a
nickel. |
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An 1883 book describes
the Worsham House: "The building has a
frontage on Main Street of 75 feet, and a depth on
Adams Street of 150 feet; is four stories high,
well arranged, architecturally handsome, in the
center of the city, and within a convenient
distance of all railroad depots and steamboat
landings. The parlor is large and handsomely
furnished. There are sixty-six sleeping
apartments for the accommodation of the guests of
the house, well ventilated, nicely furnished and
strictly neat and clean. The dining-room has
a seating capacity of 100. Connected with
the establishment are a fine far, billiard-room,
barber shop and bath-rooms. Fourteen male
and siz female employees are required in the
hotel. The house is fitted out in the most
thorough manner, with all modern improvements and
conveniences, gas, water-closets, etc". |
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Other Memphis
Hotels
-
no photos or
very little information |
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The first "Hotel" was the
BELL TAVERN on the corner of Front Row and
Toncray's Alley. About 1830, the
MISSISSIPPI INN was
erected on the east side of Main Street, north of
Commerce. About 1835 the UNION INN opened on
Adams, corner of Third. Around the same
time, the CITY HOTEL
was erected on the southwest corner of Main and
Winchester. The first owner was Nat
Anderson. In 1837, the
EXCHANGE HOTEL was built on Exchange Square
near the corner of Poplar - T. C. McMacklin, the
landlord. In 1841, the
NEW CITY HOTEL was built of brick. It
was just east of the OLD City Hotel. The
CENTRAL HOTEL was
built about 1845-46 on the southeast corner of
Main and Adams - and burned a few years later.
The WORSHAM HOUSE
opened as the AMERICAN HOTEL
about 1848. The
COMMERCIAL HOTEL was also built around
1848.
...
From
the "Old Folks Historical Record" - Volume 1 -
1874-75:
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City 1849 |
Commercial
1959 |
Commercial
1866 |
Richmond
1849 |
Union 1849 |
Washington
1854 |
Whitmore
1859 |
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The
Memphis City Directory of 1849-1850 lists 8 hotels:
The
GAYOSO ... CITY HOTEL
at Main and Front ...
RICHMOND HOUSE at 23 Front ...
UNION INN at Adams
and 3rd. ... WHITE
HOUSE on Madison ...
O'HANLON'S EXCHANGE
at Main near Adams ... and
BELVIDERE HOUSE on Washington under the
Theatre. ... EMPIRE
HOUSE on Madison
The
Memphis City Directory of 1855-56 lists 9 hotels:
APIUN
HOUSE at Main and Adams ...
BOSTICK HOUSE at Adams ...
COMMERCIAL HOTEL at
Jefferson ... CENTRAL HOTEL
at Monroe ...
GAYOSO HOUSE on Shelby ...
GERMANIA HOUSE on
Shelby ... TEMPERANCE
HOTEL at 16 Union ...
WARF BOAT HOTEL ...
WASHINGTON HOUSE at
114-116 2nd Street.
The
Memphis City Directory of 1860 lists 18 hotels:
BARNETT
HOUSE ... COMMERCIAL HOUSE ... GAYOSO HOUSE ...
GERMANIA HOUSE ... MCCLARE HOUSE ... MECHANIOS
HOUSE ... MERCHANTS HOTEL ..;. MISSISSIPPI HOUSE
... MISSOURI HOTEL ... MOZART HALL HOTEL ... NAVY
YARD HOUSE ... OLDRIDGE HOUSE ... PLANTERS HOUSE
... REDFORD HOUSE ... SEVEN SCHWAHEN HOTEL ...
SHELBY HOUSE ... WHITEMORE HOUSE ... WORSHAM HOUSE.
...Thanks
Stephanie Sutton,
Director Library
Technical Services, Tennessee State
Library-Archives, for scanning the 1850 Directory. |
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BALDWIN
-
72 Beale .
Listed in the 1911 -1916 Directories. Three
story fire-proofed building- elegant in appointments and
fittings. All modern conveniences, including telephones,
baths, steam heat, electric lights and bell service. Can
accommodate up to 60 guests.
BAPTIST MEMORIAL HOTEL
- 899 Madison
.
Listed in the 1937 -1951 Directories
BINGHAMTON
- Binghamton
.
Listed in Memphis Directories from 1894-1914
BLACKSTONE -
855 Union .
This hotel became the George
Vincent in the late 1948.
BLACKWELL -
122 Washington and
228 Vance
.
Listed in 1937-1958 directories.
BRENNER'S ROOMING
HOTEL -
172 S. Main .
This hotel listed in the
1912-1913 directories.
Click here for a photo.
BROADMORE -
228 Vance
.
The BROADMORE is Listed in the
1924-1927 Directories. The building
originally housed THE VANCE HOTEL from 1914-21,
and then HOTEL MARION from 1922-23.
Click here for a photo of
Hotel Marion
CHAMBERS HOUSE
- CHAMBERS HOTEL ... 2nd,
NE corner of Washington - 190 2nd
.
Listed in the 1878-1899 directories. Moved
to 190 2nd in 1883.
Click here for a MEMORABILIA
PHOTO.
CHELSEA HOUSE -
2nd north of Chelsea
.
Listed in the 1891-1895 directories. Not
listed 1896-1900. Listed again
1901-1909 at the same address. Not listed
1910-1914. Listed again from 1915-1918,
same address.
Click here for a photo.
CHICKASAW -
99 S. Main
.
Listed in the 1922-1945 directories. Moves
to 73 Monroe in 1942.
CUMBERLAND -
109-111 Adams .
In
1906, listed at 131 Poplar..
Listed in the 1868-69 Directories.
DELTA -
2nd and Poplar
.
Listed in the 1901-1909
Directories.
In 1906 it had 40 rooms- European Plan. Rate of $2.50-$5
week.
DeSOTO -
154 E. Calhoun
.
Listed in the 1920 - 1958 directories.
Click here for a photo
.
Click here for 2nd photo
DEVOY - 69 Jefferson
.
This
hotel became the King Cotton. See Hotels,
page 1
FISHER
HOUSE -
80-84 Market .
Listed in the
1907-1918 Memphis Directories. Continues
in 1920 for 1 year and then again in 1924 for 1
year.
FRANKLIN HOUSE - 12 Union - 37
Adams
.
Listed in the 1870-1882 directories. In
1882, the hotel moved to 37 Adams. Not
listed from 1883-1890. Listed again in 1891,
1894-1902.
FREEMAN'S -
120 Front
.
Listed continuously in the Memphis Directories
from 1898-1913.
HOPKIN'S HOUSE - 7 Jefferson -
67 Jefferson
(Number Changed)
.
Listed in the 1901-13 Directories.
Click here for a photo
HOBSON -
677 Poplar
.
Listed in the 1914-1918 directories.
JEFFERSON - 146
N. Main .
Listed in 1940-1954
Memphis Directories. See READ or ST.
NICHOLAS above.
LORRAINE
HOTEL-MOTEL .
See Windsor
Hotel above.
MADISON
- 223 Madison .
Listed in the 1948-1958 directories.
Click here for a photo
MAGIC
- 192 E. Calhoun .
Listed in the 1940
-1958 directories.
MARQUETTE -
507 Linden .
Listed as "Colored"
in the 1942-58 directory.
MEMPHIS -
83 Jefferson .
Listed in the 1942
- 1954 directories
MERCHANT'S HOTEL -
322 S. Main
.
Listed in 1859 Directory. Building burned in
1996.
Click here for a photo
MONROE -
631 Monroe .
Listed in the 1948
- 1958 directories
MOZART
- 2nd, corner of Chelsea
- 13-15 Washington .
Listed from
1868-1876. Not listed 1877-81. Listed
again in 1882 with a new address at 13-15
Washington. Listings continue until 1884.
Click here for 1876 Ad
MILLER HOUSE-
716 Main
.
.Listed in the
1902-1904 Directory
ORIENT -
378 1/2 S. Main
.
Listed in the 1923-1926 directories.
PHOENIX -
198 1/2 E. Calhoun
.
Listed in 1919-1928 directories.
PLANTER'S HOUSE
- 301-303 2nd .
Listed in the
1878-1883 Memphis Directories.
POWELL -
119 Adams
.
Listed in the 1911 - 1958 Memphis Directories.
Click her for a photo
REID- 223 Madison .
Listed in the 1938-1945directories
Click here for 1938 memorabilia photo
Click her for a photo
REX -200 Union
.
Listed in the 1940-1958 directories.
Click here for a photo
...
Click here for memorabilia photo
ROSARY -
181 Beale. 212 S. Third .
Listed as "Colored"
in the 1940-1958 Memphis Directories. In 1948,
this hotel had an annex located at 212 S.
3rd.
Click here for a photo
ST. AGNES- 114 1/2 Beale .
Listed in 1945 - 1958 directories.
Click here for a photo
ST. LOUIS - 61 Poplar .
Listed in 1919-22 directories.
SCHILLINGS
-
14 Adams .
Listed in the
1891-1896 directories.
SHELBY HOUSE
- 7-9
Poplar - 72 Poplar .
Listed in the
1901-1906 directories. The number changed to
72 Poplar in 1906
SOUTHERN -
417 Main - 18 Beale
- 253-257 S. Main
.
This hotel is listed in the 1867-1872
at 417 Main. In 1898-1902 it's at 18 Beale.
From 1911-1942, it's at 253-257 S. Main -
Numbering system changed.
STAR
- 188 1/2 2nd St.
The Star Hotel was listed in 1900-1903 Memphis
Directory at 188-192 2nd St.
"I remember a hotel on the northeast corner of Main-Calhoun
named the Star Hotel. It was small, maybe 2 or 3 stories and was
frequented mostly by train crews & passengers arriving at Central &
Union stations. I remember eating at their lunch counter at times
when I worked at the Missouri Pacific RR office up Calhoun St.
It must have been torn down years ago." - Roy Johnson
STOCK YARD - 150 W. McLemore
.
Listed in the 1937-1951 directories.
TENNESSEE HOUSE - 164
Calhoun - 10 W. Calhoun
. This hotel is listed
in the 1893 Directory at 164 Calhoun and continues to be listed at
that address up to 1906 when the address changes to 10 W. Calhoun.
The listing in the Memphis Directories continues
up to 1958. In 1906 the Tennessee House had 30
rooms - American Plan. Rates $1.75 . European plan $1
per day.
TRAVELLER'S - 347 Vance
.
Listed in the 1941-1958 directories.
Click here for a photo
.
Click here for 2nd photo
UNION
- 244
Union .
Listed in the
1907-1918 Directories.
VANCE -
228 Vance .
The VANCE is Listed in the
1914-1921 Directories. In 1922-23, the building housed the HOTEL MARION. In 1924-27, it became the BROADMORE HOTEL.
Click here for a photo of
Hotel Marion
WATAUGA - 212 N. 3rd .
Listed in the 1940-1943 directories.
WEAKLEY -
81 Jefferson
.
Listed in the 1920-1941 directories.
WHITMORE HOUSE -
Adams, between 3rd and 4th -
109-111 Adams .
Listed in the
1859-1882 Memphis Directories. Moved to
190-111 Adams in 1882 .
Click here for a photo
ZANONE WAYSIDE INN
-
Thomas, NW corner Plum .
Listed in the
1907-1921 Memphis Directories.
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CREDITS:
The "Historic-Memphis" Team would
like to acknowledge and thank the following organizations for their
contributions which helped make this page possible:
Memphis
Public
Library, University of Memphis Libraries, Memphis Commercial Appeal,
Memphis Press Scimitar, Greater Memphis Chamber, Memphis Flyer,
Vance Lauderdale Family Archives, Memphis Heritage, Tom
Leatherwood Shelby County Register,
Lee Askew, George Whitworth,
Joe Spake, and many other individuals whose assistance is
acknowledged on individual photos. |
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