My pal Lindsay Jones recently published a story in the Memphis Flyer about the fancy electric charging stations for battery-powered automobiles that will (we hope) be installed at various locations in Memphis and other cities in Tennessee.
It's a great idea. But not exactly new. Someone thought about it, oh, 90 years ago.
As you can see from this old advertisement that I turned up in a 1923 Memphis City Directory, an establishment called the Electric Garage was in business downtown at 199-209 Jefferson Avenue. Not only did that firm sell and service the new Edison and Philadelphia line of electric cars, but it proclaimed, "Our electric service department makes the electric the car for Memphis."
And what a grand-looking electric car this "typical" Memphis family is driving, as they head out for a night on the town. Why, it's so nice it looks like it's on stage! Not even the Lauderdales dressed up so much when they ventured out to go bowling or roller-skating.
First we brought back the old trolleys, and now electric cars. What's next for Memphis — dirigibles?
