MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1996
From September 1925 until September 1981, the solidly built stone building on Washington between Second and Third held some of the toughest people Memphis, Shelby County and the nation have produced. A lot of people killed others before they went there. A few killed people after they got there. Over the years, quite a few tried to break their way out, and some succeeded. But with the opening of the Criminal Justice Center complex in 1981, the old Shelby County jail and criminal courts building — a five-story edifice with reddish brown shingles on the roof — has stood quiet, empty except for storage. The steel that formed the cells on the top three floors was removed several years ago, leaving a large open space at the upper levels of the building. The cell areas had no permanent flooring. Over the years, proposals have been advanced to use the old building for expanded jail space, turn it into a county office building or develop it for restaurant and shop use. A new feasibility review is on to determine if it can be used for Shelby County and Memphis archives and for office space for the Shelby County Clerk’s Office. Based on a request from county Mayor Jim Rout, Gov. Don Sundquist has included $1 million in his budget proposal this year for development of an archives. Rout and his top staff members say enough savings can be achieved by moving county offices back into county buildings to fund an additional $2.5 million to $3 million in bonds for the renovation if an architectural study finds that enough space can be provided to serve the archives and clerk’s operations within the projected costs.
50 years ago — 1971
The Memphis-shelby County Airport Authority’s board of commissioners was worried at its meeting Tuesday about the inconvenience and drab appearance of the temporary plywood tunnel from the entrance of the Memphis International Airport terminal to the parking lot. There’s a baggage problem and the interior of the tunnel, built to bypass construction, is “all gray and plywoody.” Chairman E.W. “Ned” Cook told airport architect Roy P. Harrover to “jazz up” the tunnel.
75 years ago — 1946
WASHINGTON – The ladies may get their “shortie” coats for Spring after all because the Civilian Production Administration may do an unwilling about-face. When CPA discovered that some manufacturers were violating its style order by illegally shortening Spring coats — and thus saving many dollars in the fabric costs — the agency was both shocked and incensed and put out an edict. It ruled that stores must cease selling such coats immediately and that the manufacturers must get on the right track — with coats at least 33 inches long — before the garments could be sold.
100 years ago — 1921
EL DORADO, Ark. – A cursory survey of general business conditions here, conducted by men experienced in every line of commercial activity, reveals the fact that the oil boom presents trade possibilities far greater than the outside world can comprehend at present.