Today I noticed that it appears that one or two buildings were razed on 2nd right across from Court Square. What was there? What is supposed to go in?

Used to be an old parking garage. MBJ did an article on it a few weeks ago. Supposed to be a new building going up, along with renovation of the building right next door.

During the time of the Civil War, that site was the Irving Block prison, a notorious and cruel Union prison for Confederate soldiers and Memphis citizens, men and women, who fell afoul of the occupying Yankee forces. At one time, it housed hundreds of prisoners, many of whom died a horrible death. I used to park in that garage and office nextdoor back in the 1970's, and I can attest to some ghostly feelings there, for sure.

It is being razed along with plans to redevelop the 147 Jefferson building nextdoor. There was an article on the plans in the Memphis Business Journal recently.

I'm assuming a low-rise 6-8 story building is going in its place, along the heights of the hotels by Morgan Keegan?

Found the article. Looks decent...

http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/print...l?page=all

That does look nice. Anything would be a vast improvement. Maybe I will park there in the new lot until it all gets built.

Is it supposed to be leaning out like that?

(01-27-2013 09:19 AM)21-17 Best Time I Ever Ha Wrote:  During the time of the Civil War, that site was the Irving Block prison, a notorious and cruel Union prison for Confederate soldiers and Memphis citizens, men and women, who fell afoul of the occupying Yankee forces. At one time, it housed hundreds of prisoners, many of whom died a horrible death. I used to park in that garage and office nextdoor back in the 1970's, and I can attest to some ghostly feelings there, for sure.

It is being razed along with plans to redevelop the 147 Jefferson building nextdoor. There was an article on the plans in the Memphis Business Journal recently.

Pretty bad place but according to this there were only 3 deaths at that prison but pretty bad conditions.

Quote:The 1864 report to Lincoln stated, "...the prison which is used for the detention of citizens, prisoners of war on their way to the North and the United Sates soldiers awaiting trial and which is located in a large block of stores is represented as the filthiest place the inspector ever saw occupied by human beings. The whole management and government of the prison could not be worse! Discipline and order are unknown. Food sufficient but badly served. In a dark wet cellar I found twenty-eight prisoners chained to a wet floor, where they had been constantly confined, many of them for several months, one since November 16, 1863, and are not for a moment released even to relieve the calls of nature. With a single exception these men have had no trial"

Maximum prisoners 582, 1 escape*, 3 deaths.

I thought this was going to be about club crave.

(01-29-2013 10:04 AM)mairving Wrote:  

(01-27-2013 09:19 AM)21-17 Best Time I Ever Ha Wrote:  During the time of the Civil War, that site was the Irving Block prison, a notorious and cruel Union prison for Confederate soldiers and Memphis citizens, men and women, who fell afoul of the occupying Yankee forces. At one time, it housed hundreds of prisoners, many of whom died a horrible death. I used to park in that garage and office nextdoor back in the 1970's, and I can attest to some ghostly feelings there, for sure.

It is being razed along with plans to redevelop the 147 Jefferson building nextdoor. There was an article on the plans in the Memphis Business Journal recently.

Pretty bad place but according to this there were only 3 deaths at that prison but pretty bad conditions.

Quote:The 1864 report to Lincoln stated, "...the prison which is used for the detention of citizens, prisoners of war on their way to the North and the United Sates soldiers awaiting trial and which is located in a large block of stores is represented as the filthiest place the inspector ever saw occupied by human beings. The whole management and government of the prison could not be worse! Discipline and order are unknown. Food sufficient but badly served. In a dark wet cellar I found twenty-eight prisoners chained to a wet floor, where they had been constantly confined, many of them for several months, one since November 16, 1863, and are not for a moment released even to relieve the calls of nature. With a single exception these men have had no trial"

Maximum prisoners 582, 1 escape*, 3 deaths.

If you believe the Yankee's reports. I have heard otherwise, but I could be wrong. I read that report, too, and it's quite interesting. Pretty horrendous stuff. I am glad I didn't know all that when I worked there.

(01-29-2013 12:39 PM)21-17 Best Time I Ever Ha Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 10:04 AM)mairving Wrote:  

(01-27-2013 09:19 AM)21-17 Best Time I Ever Ha Wrote:  During the time of the Civil War, that site was the Irving Block prison, a notorious and cruel Union prison for Confederate soldiers and Memphis citizens, men and women, who fell afoul of the occupying Yankee forces. At one time, it housed hundreds of prisoners, many of whom died a horrible death. I used to park in that garage and office nextdoor back in the 1970's, and I can attest to some ghostly feelings there, for sure.

It is being razed along with plans to redevelop the 147 Jefferson building nextdoor. There was an article on the plans in the Memphis Business Journal recently.

Pretty bad place but according to this there were only 3 deaths at that prison but pretty bad conditions.

Quote:The 1864 report to Lincoln stated, "...the prison which is used for the detention of citizens, prisoners of war on their way to the North and the United Sates soldiers awaiting trial and which is located in a large block of stores is represented as the filthiest place the inspector ever saw occupied by human beings. The whole management and government of the prison could not be worse! Discipline and order are unknown. Food sufficient but badly served. In a dark wet cellar I found twenty-eight prisoners chained to a wet floor, where they had been constantly confined, many of them for several months, one since November 16, 1863, and are not for a moment released even to relieve the calls of nature. With a single exception these men have had no trial"

Maximum prisoners 582, 1 escape*, 3 deaths.

If you believe the Yankee's reports. I have heard otherwise, but I could be wrong. I read that report, too, and it's quite interesting. Pretty horrendous stuff. I am glad I didn't know all that when I worked there.

I doubt any of the Civil War prisons were very pleasant places. Andersonville in Georgia and Camp Douglas in Illinois were two of the most notorious.

(01-29-2013 10:04 AM)mairving Wrote:  

(01-27-2013 09:19 AM)21-17 Best Time I Ever Ha Wrote:  During the time of the Civil War, that site was the Irving Block prison, a notorious and cruel Union prison for Confederate soldiers and Memphis citizens, men and women, who fell afoul of the occupying Yankee forces. At one time, it housed hundreds of prisoners, many of whom died a horrible death. I used to park in that garage and office nextdoor back in the 1970's, and I can attest to some ghostly feelings there, for sure.

It is being razed along with plans to redevelop the 147 Jefferson building nextdoor. There was an article on the plans in the Memphis Business Journal recently.

Pretty bad place but according to this there were only 3 deaths at that prison but pretty bad conditions.

Quote:The 1864 report to Lincoln stated, "...the prison which is used for the detention of citizens, prisoners of war on their way to the North and the United Sates soldiers awaiting trial and which is located in a large block of stores is represented as the filthiest place the inspector ever saw occupied by human beings. The whole management and government of the prison could not be worse! Discipline and order are unknown. Food sufficient but badly served. In a dark wet cellar I found twenty-eight prisoners chained to a wet floor, where they had been constantly confined, many of them for several months, one since November 16, 1863, and are not for a moment released even to relieve the calls of nature. With a single exception these men have had no trial"

Maximum prisoners 582, 1 escape*, 3 deaths.

Are those quotes from the bizjournal?

(01-29-2013 02:19 PM)kabluey Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 10:04 AM)mairving Wrote:  

(01-27-2013 09:19 AM)21-17 Best Time I Ever Ha Wrote:  During the time of the Civil War, that site was the Irving Block prison, a notorious and cruel Union prison for Confederate soldiers and Memphis citizens, men and women, who fell afoul of the occupying Yankee forces. At one time, it housed hundreds of prisoners, many of whom died a horrible death. I used to park in that garage and office nextdoor back in the 1970's, and I can attest to some ghostly feelings there, for sure.

It is being razed along with plans to redevelop the 147 Jefferson building nextdoor. There was an article on the plans in the Memphis Business Journal recently.

Pretty bad place but according to this there were only 3 deaths at that prison but pretty bad conditions.

Quote:The 1864 report to Lincoln stated, "...the prison which is used for the detention of citizens, prisoners of war on their way to the North and the United Sates soldiers awaiting trial and which is located in a large block of stores is represented as the filthiest place the inspector ever saw occupied by human beings. The whole management and government of the prison could not be worse! Discipline and order are unknown. Food sufficient but badly served. In a dark wet cellar I found twenty-eight prisoners chained to a wet floor, where they had been constantly confined, many of them for several months, one since November 16, 1863, and are not for a moment released even to relieve the calls of nature. With a single exception these men have had no trial"

Maximum prisoners 582, 1 escape*, 3 deaths.

Are those quotes from the bizjournal?

From here

Nice picture of the raid where Forrest attempted to free the prisoners there.

(01-29-2013 02:25 PM)mairving Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 02:19 PM)kabluey Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 10:04 AM)mairving Wrote:  

(01-27-2013 09:19 AM)21-17 Best Time I Ever Ha Wrote:  During the time of the Civil War, that site was the Irving Block prison, a notorious and cruel Union prison for Confederate soldiers and Memphis citizens, men and women, who fell afoul of the occupying Yankee forces. At one time, it housed hundreds of prisoners, many of whom died a horrible death. I used to park in that garage and office nextdoor back in the 1970's, and I can attest to some ghostly feelings there, for sure.

It is being razed along with plans to redevelop the 147 Jefferson building nextdoor. There was an article on the plans in the Memphis Business Journal recently.

Pretty bad place but according to this there were only 3 deaths at that prison but pretty bad conditions.

Quote:The 1864 report to Lincoln stated, "...the prison which is used for the detention of citizens, prisoners of war on their way to the North and the United Sates soldiers awaiting trial and which is located in a large block of stores is represented as the filthiest place the inspector ever saw occupied by human beings. The whole management and government of the prison could not be worse! Discipline and order are unknown. Food sufficient but badly served. In a dark wet cellar I found twenty-eight prisoners chained to a wet floor, where they had been constantly confined, many of them for several months, one since November 16, 1863, and are not for a moment released even to relieve the calls of nature. With a single exception these men have had no trial"

Maximum prisoners 582, 1 escape*, 3 deaths.

Are those quotes from the bizjournal?

From here

Nice picture of the raid where Forrest attempted to free the prisoners there.

What it really looked like:

cool thanks!