photo courtesy “The Art Work of Memphis” (1912)
The John Mulford Residence, 664 Vance Avenue, in 1912
I’ve written before about Mulford Jewelers and the founder of the company, John Mulford. I’m sure you remember every thrilling detail of that story, so there’s no need to repeat it here.
But looking through old copies of The Art Work of Memphis, an amazing collection of photographs published in 1912 by a Chicago company, I came across this wonderful image of Mulford’s private residence, which stood at 664 Vance Avenue.
I love the differently styled turrets and the wraparound porch. It’s probably hard to see here, but right by the street is the old stepping stone the Mulford family would have used to step into their carriage, and it even has his name carved into the front of it.
Naturally, I wondered how this fine house looked today, more than a century later. Well, take a deep breath, sit down, and scroll down. Not a trace remains of the grand building you see here. I’m not saying it’s not a nicely colored trailer at 664 Vance, but I’m afraid it just doesn’t have quite the same curb appeal, as realtors like to say, as the original home.
Those zigzag lines in the present-day picture are power lines, something else you don’t see in the 1912 view.
I wonder where that old stepping stone went? That’s not something you would just throw away, or is it?
photo courtesy of Google Images
