Tennessee, Shelby County, Memphis
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Memphis' first full-service radio station began regularly scheduled broadcasting on January 20, 1923, from the top floor of this building, which was then the home of The Commercial Appeal newspaper. Listeners enjoyed a full range of musical expression along with news, sports, and information. On Jan. 23, 1927 WMC gave the Mid-South its first network programs when it affiliated with the National Broadcasting Co. (NBC). During the Mississippi River flood of 1927 and 1937, WMC broadcast 24-hour daily information for steamboats, disaster relief agencies and refugees. WMC Radio, AM 790 is now located at 1960 Union Avenue with stations WMC-FM and WMC-tv.
(Communications • Entertainment) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
Memphis' first full-service radio station began regularly scheduled broadcasting on January 20, 1923, from the top floor of this building, which was then the home of The Commercial Appeal newspaper. Listeners enjoyed a full range of musical expression along with news, sports, and information. On Jan. 23, 1927 WMC gave the Mid-South its first network programs when it affiliated with the National Broadcasting Co. (NBC). During the Mississippi River flood of 1927 and 1937, WMC broadcast 24-hour daily information for steamboats, disaster relief agencies and refugees. WMC Radio, AM 790 is now located at 1960 Union Avenue with stations WMC-FM and WMC-tv.(Communications • Entertainment) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
Born in Germany in 1835, Elias Lowenstein emigrated to Memphis in 1854. The firm which he headed, B. Lowenstein & Bros. Department Store, was prominent in Memphis for 125 years. A leader in the Jewish community, he served as president of Temple Israel for 15 years. He contributed liberally to rebuilding the city after the disastrous 1870's yellow fever epidemics. (continued on reverse side)
In 1836 the state authorized building a brick hospital on this site, chiefly for river travelers. In 1873 it became a municipal institution. After its razing in 1891, the location became Forrest Park.
With Chickasaw approval, Army Captain Isaac Guion erected the United States' first garrison in the mid-Mississippi Valley here in October of 1797. Initially named Fort Adams for the second U.S. President, the stockade was later called Fort Pike, because Adams' name was transferred to a larger fort at Natchez, Mississippi. Fort Pike was vacated in 1798, when Fort Pickering was constructed on a higher part of the bluff.
The 342 acre Lea Woods was bought in 1901 as the first project of Memphis Park Commission on advise of Olmsted Brothers noted landscape and architects. By popular vote it was named for Judge John Overton, a city founder. Naturalistic landscaping was by George Kessler, landscape architect. Soon added were the zoo 1905; the first city golf course 1911; Brooks Art Gallery 1916. The park with its unique 175 acres of climax oak-hickory urban forest was preserved as a unit by the U.S. Supreme Courts landmark decision, 1971. Placed in National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior 1979.
Clarence Saunders, whose self-service groceries were followed by modern supermarkets, started construction of this building for his home in 1922. It was incomplete when he lost an epic Stock Exchange battle. Developers who bought the grounds gave the structure to the City of Memphis and in 1930 it became the municipal museum.
This public institution of higher learning has grown with the city of Memphis since opening in 1912. Its development went through the following stages: West Tennessee State Normal School (1912-25); West Tennessee State Teachers College (1925-1941); Memphis State College (1941-1957); Memphis State University (1957-1994)and The University of Memphis since July 1, 1994.
Samuel Crosson and Henry Ward came to this area in July 1835 and established a grist mill and sawmill on Turkey Creek. They founded Syracuse 11 August 1837. Crosson died at the age of 49 years. The burial site of Henry Ward is unknown.
In 1822 the site of Hamilton County’s first Courthouse with post office was located ½ mi. NE on land of Asahel Rawlings, In 1830 a town called Dallas was founded with Commissioners Robert Patterson, Chmn., Daniel Henderson, Jeremiah H. Jones, William McGill, James Riddle, and Cornelius Milligan. In 1834 the population was 200, with 4 stores, 2 taverns, 2 doctors, 1 lawyer, and 1 blacksmith. The county seat was moved in 1840.
“In 1851 landowners in the St. Mary’s District of Wake County witnessed the arrival of the railroad. The first business was operated by Henry Fort, a former slave, farmer and cabinetmaker. A post office was established in 1878. The General Assembly incorporated the town in 1883, then known as Garner’s Station, but in 1901 Garner’s Station incorporation was repealed. By 1896 the population was 250. Garner Depot was constructed in 1902 to service passengers and became a shipping point for baled cotton. In 1905 the town was reincorporated as the Town of Garner. The artesian well is located approximately five feed north of this plaque. The town’s corporate limits were south, east and west of this well and north to the railroad tracks.”
Downtown Garner Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
Built near Old Stage Road about 1807, occupied by Logan Early Davies, James Baxter Davies & their descendants for over a century. Named for Zachariah Davies, soldier of the American Revolution. In the path of both armies, 1861-65, it was the scene of a dramatic episode between Frances Anna Vaughn Davies and a Union forager in 1863.
Henderson’s Spring, as listed in early post office records, was a place name in the Pigeon Forge area as early as 1858, just before the Civil War. Elijah Henderson, son of William H. and Mary Catherine Cannon Henderson, and his family developed a popular resort around a mineral spring only 400 feet north of this marker. The mineral water was promoted as an “effective and invigorating tonic.” People from miles around brought buckets and filled them with this “special” water that poured from an old gun barrel spout. It was said to be better than “doctorin’ medicine.” A chemist declared that the spring water contained eleven minerals which included “sulphates,” carbonates, chlorides and many other healthy properties. 
The Sevier County School Board purchased a piece of land on the old James L. Gobble farm for a brand new Pigeon Forge schoolhouse on September 1, 1917 and paid five hundred dollars. It was located on a knoll northeast of this marker between Middle Creek Road and the Dixie Canning Company site, presently the southwest corner of the Teaster Lane and Old Mill Avenue intersection. Students left the old Pigeon Forge Academy across the Little Pigeon River and began filling the empty halls of the new white clapboard building in August of 1923. This was in the growing business district which already included the Old Mill, the Dixie Canning Company, two stores, a blacksmith shop, and a railroad station. 
Cahokia was the largest prehistoric Indian community in America north of Mexico. It covered an area of six square-miles, including at least 120 mounds of different size and function. Initial occupation during Late Woodland times (AD 700-800) included small settlements along Cahokia Creek. These expanded and merged during early Mississippian times (AD 800-1000) and the population and community increased, reaching a peak between AD 1050-1150 with an estimated population of 10-20,000. A period of change and population decline began in the 1200s and by AD 1350-1400, Cahokia had been abandoned.
During the Civil War, both Union and Confederate forces considered Wolf Run Shoals an essential crossing point on the Occoquan River through 1963. Confederate regiments camped on the south side of the shoals and posted pickets there from the winter of 1861–1862 until March 1862.
The central ceremonial precinct of Cahokia was enclosed by a defensive wall, the Stockade (or Palisade). It was built of upright logs placed in 4-5 foot deep trenches and probably stood 10-15 feet high above the ground. It would take an estimated 15-20,000 logs to build this wall that was nearly two miles long. At regular intervals (about 85 feet, center-to-center) were bastions, guard towers with raised platforms for warriors to protect the front of the wall. L-shaped entryways were occasionally placed between bastions.
An early milestone for the Warners' film empire was the operation of Harry, Sam, & Albert Warner of a theater here, 1906-07. It seated 99 persons, who could view three movies for a nickel. Sixteen years later, Warner Bros. Pictures was established.
The Burtner House
The heart of Cahokia was the Grand Plaza situated between Monks Mound and the Twin Mounds. Archaeological testing has confirmed that the plaza was, in part, artificially created by filling in low areas and reducing high points to create a flat, prepared surface. It was here that public gatherings, markets and festivals would take place and the chief could address the assembled masses from Monks Mound.
