Preserving Memphis
A Legacy Saving Legacy
It all started in 1975 in a room above a hardware store on Madison Avenue. A historic building was slated to be demolished in midtown…Hill Mansion, and a group of concerned Memphians were gathering to come up with a plan. The recent increase of historic building demolitions with the rising presence of fast food chains up and down one of the cities’ main corridors was concerning. Hill Mansion was one of the last semblances of what Union had once been; a thoroughfare of stately residential homes where Memphis’ most wealthy and their kin had built large estates lining both sides of the street. While the effort to save Hill Mansion ultimately failed, Memphis Heritage Inc. was born in the endeavor. The group, spurred on mostly by volunteers, found their passion in identifying at-risk historic buildings around the city and fighting for their preservation. With over 11,000 buildings on the historic register, Memphis is a city steeped in its past and the work for preservation is never done.
A Future for the Past
Memphis Heritage Inc. has worked tirelessly for over 40 years, reviving the city’s most notable landmarks and advocating for those in jeopardy. The group comes to a project with common sense, a lot of grace, and a fresh perspective. They realize that some property owners can’t keep up with the ongoing expenses of caring for old structures. But they also realize that a building doesn’t need to be torn down simply because it’s old. There is hope and there can still be purpose for the oldest buildings in Memphis. There is still beauty and inspiration to be gleaned from the architectural styles of the past. Sometimes the project means finding a new owner with greater resources. Sometimes it means finding a way to provide support. Recently, Memphis Heritage did just that by approaching the new owners of the Nineteenth Century Club on Union Avenue and encouraging them to halt painting the historic building’s brick facade white. The non-profit offered to fund the removal of the paint that had already been applied and the owners agreed. One more small but mighty step towards preserving the historic integrity of the cities’ most valuable buildings.
A Track Record of Success
If you’re a Memphian, chances are you benefit from the work of Memphis Heritage Inc. whether or not you know who to thank. The group was fundamental in preserving the Sears Crosstown building (now Crosstown Concourse) as well as the Tennessee Brewery downtown. They’ve helped dozens of Memphis’ finest residences and neighborhoods accomplish Nation Registry status, and they’ve compiled a map as well as an exhaustive list of the city’s historic properties that can be Accessed From Their Website. New renovation plans for the famous Sterrick Building and the tallest building in Memphis, 100 North Main, are moving forwards, and certainly in part for a new appreciation of our cities’ storied past and a revived passion for our collective future.
You can learn a lot about a people from not just the beauty and ingenuity of their architecture but from the way they preserve their past. Because of Memphis Heritage Inc., our cities’ past and future is in good hands.