Sterick Revival?!

Sterick @ Third & Madison

If you’ve been downtown recently you may have noticed scaffolding up around Sterick. According to recent local news, there is a fesibility survey going on. Both Sterick and the Chisca are targeted for “revival.”

Memphis, Once Upon a Time…

Browsing the web this morning, I found this intriguing website of late 19th/early 20th century Memphis photos.  I could spend hours perusing it:  http://www.shorpy.com/image/tid/269.  I find it fascinating.

I also heard, the other day, of Google Maps or maybe Google Earth adding the ability to place old photos like this into Street View. It would be awesome to see these photos georeferenced and in place.  I’ll definitely be researching it further (interpretation: “messing with it later on”).

 

Update: Historypin.com is the website for placing historic images in Google Maps Street View

Make Up Your Mind

Mud Island, August 2011

With the recent slightly cooler weather, I decided to take a little stroll after work one evening.  I live downtown near the river.  Being from the Gulf Coast, I’m always drawn to water, so I took my usual riverside route and I noticed that the water was lower than I’ve ever seen.  Just a few months ago it was at record highs…quite ironic.  The contrast is a lot like the difference in tide along the coast when there’s a hurricane in the Gulf.

Mud Island, May 2011

Ghosts of the Present

Sterick Building

A few months ago I was walking near Court Square in downtown Memphis.  Being somewhat of a geek, I admire architecture and especially old buildings.  I caught sight of a huge, old building a few blocks east, and headed toward it.  When I got closer, I realized the entire bottom floor was boarded up.  I looked further up for signs of life and realized that there were no window furnishings inside the windows.  The blinds were mangled and non-existent.  I had to know why this beautiful old beast lay dormant.  Internet, here I come.

The Sterick Building.  That is it’s name.  At 3rd St and Madison Ave.  Price:

In the Beginning…

Looking North on Main St.

I’ve been in Memphis for about a year.  When I tell people my story how I got here, (which begins on the beautiful Gulf Coast of Northwest Florida) the immediate reaction I almost always get is a disgusted sounding “Why Memphis?”  I don’t really have an answer.  I guess I’m becoming something of a modern pilgrim.  I have however, become fascinated with the historic architecture in Memphis and the city’s evolution.

I plan on posting my pictures and perspectives from my jaunts as a relatively new Memphian.