Lasting legacies

Feature cover story for The Memphis News

Sept. 25, 2010

How some Memphis businesses have endured a century or more

Consider the continent as it was when Memphis was founded in 1819. No railroads crisscrossed the land and Tennessee roads would not be paved until after World War I.

For a city to thrive and prosper, transportation would be paramount. For Memphis, the Mississippi River, an integral artery of commerce and communication in America, would be its gateway to greatness.

The owners of the city at the time,John Overton, John Christmas McLemore, Andrew Jackson and James Winchester – businessmen all – realized the importance of Memphis’ location, and with more than 5,000 acres to work with, they planned the city accordingly.

One look at the layout of Main Street and its four public squares named for commerce – Court, Market, Exchange and Auction – hints toward founders’ emphasis on businesses.

Memphis would become, and has remained, a city run by industry and those who helm it … (read more)