Memphis Classics

Stax Record Company-South Memphis

Stax was a recording studio opened in 1957. Founded by siblings, Jim STewart and Estelle AXton, (ST/AX)

In 1976 the Stax Record Company went bankrupt.

In 1998 there was a push to preserve the legacy that Stax had made, so the site was turned into a museum and school in the early 2000's.

Universal Life insurance Company-South Memphis

Founded the 1920’s by successful business man J.E. Walker. Universal was the 3rd Largest Black owned company in America by the 1950’s. The company closed in the late 90's.

The building has remained vacant since 2001.

International Harvester Company-North Memphis

Memphis plant opened in 1948 in Frayser and provided jobs for many, including many African Americans who made a good living.

The plant closed in 1985 and put over 650 people out of work. Excuse for closing plant was “consolidation of North American agricultural equipment operations.”

W.C. Handy Theater -Orange Mound

W.C. Handy theater was a theater in Orange Mound, a predominately black neighborhood that opened in 1947 that seated 1,102 people, and would show films and live music.

However, it was soon closed down in 1955 to to the rise of desegregation, where many of the residents in the area would leave to go to theaters in other communities.

It was finally demolished in the fall of 2012

Foote Homes Housing Project- South Memphis

Housing project established in 1940’s by Memphis Housing Authority (MHA) to provide public housing for low income Black families.

Presently often criticized as an area the breeds crime and discord.

Blessed Sacrament Church -Binghampton

The Church was founded in 1912 with a large White Italian Congregation in the area known as Binghampton. Mass for the white congregation was conducted in Latin.

Over 100 years later, the ethnic makeup of the neighborhood has become extremely diverse with a large Hispanic and Vietnamese congregation. Masses are conducted in English, Latin, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Blessed Sacrament school, which consisted of a primarily white student body, closed in 1991.

Blessed Sacrament School re-opened as a Jubilee School in 2000 under the name De La Salle Elementary. The population of the school includes a large Hispanic, Vietnamese population and as of late, a large influx of refugees from the Sudan. Often called a “mini United Nations.”

Mt. Pisgah C.M.E. Church -Orange Mound

Mt. Pisgah C.M.E. Church was built in its current location in 1949 and added an education wing in 1975. A fixture in the black community and particularly in Orange Mound, the church’s congregation was active in the Civil Rights Movement and is home to many successful African American Memphians, including the first Federal Judge, Odell Horton.

St Augustine Catholic Church- South Memphis

With its beginnings on Walker Avenue, St. Augustine was the first Black Catholic Parish in Memphis.

The largest African American Catholic congregation in Memphis, the church moved to its current location at 1169 Kerr Avenue. St. Augustine parishioners, rallied and raised the funds to now boast that the church is “paid for.” The church is home to many prominent African American Catholics in Memphis.

East High School (Poplar)

In its early days, opening in 1948, East High School boasted of a campus that was the envy of all, securing it’s position as one of Memphis’ most historic schools. The work of the school’s architect Everett D, Woods is still admired today. The white student body became integrated in 1966.

The make-up of the school today is primarily African American with a large population of Hispanic students, due in large part to the “white flight” to further east Memphis.

Citations for Photos:

Stax: http://soul-quinquin.eklablog.com/stax-volt-story-c18908683 http://music.newcity.com/2011/04/13/record-store-day-2011-numero-group-pops-up-big/

W.C. Handy: http://www.historic-memphis.com/memphis-historic/movietheaters/handy.html

Foote Homes: https://vancedesignteam.com/rufus-thomas/

Blessed Sacrament: http://www.chblessedsacrament.com/images/special_photos/index.htm

St. Augustine: http://www.staugustinememphis.org/history

East High School: http://www.easthigh.org/building.html