Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-12-03
THE STANTON BLOCK.
Completion Of an Elegant Architec'
turaI Feature of Memphis.

The Stanton Block, on the corner of
Madison and Front streets. where the
music Of trowels aud the din Of hammers
has been familiar to the ears Of all pass
ers during the last four or five months, is
finished, all save few touches within,
aud will soon be occupied by men repre-
senting various pursuits and professions.
This block, in connection with the Bank
Building adjoining, is, perhaps, the most
solid and elegantly finished business
structure in Memphis. 1t is an ornament
to the city, which will be pointed to with
satisfaction and pride long after the
builders have gone to their rest. While
the exterior is perfectly plain and unpre-
tending, the style is chaste, unique aud
harmonious, and the building presents
an imposing appearance from the streets
and from the river.
The block eclipses the many elegant
ones on Madison street, the acknowledged
"Wall street" of the city. II is three
stories high, exclusive of the basement,
which is admirably adapted for cotton
offices or banking houses. A well known
cotton firm has already moved into the
extensive room on the corner, and q
dozen other firms will be in the building
by or before the first of January. The
second floor will be occupied by different
Insurance. agencies and banking institu-
tions, and the floors above will be princi-
pally occupied by professional gentlemen.
The Offices are large, we'll ventilated, we'll
lighted by day as well as at night, and
furnished with every desirable modern
convenience. All parts of the building
are quite accessible, and the broad, grand
stairways are ornamented with massive
iron hand-rails. The pavement in front,
like the front of the house, is of heavy
slab stone from the limestone quarries Of
North Alabama, and the basement or half
basement is enclosed from the stree! by
solid iron posts and railing, capped with
polished silver ornaments. This feature
sgreeably relieves the heavy masonry,
which is topped eff by deep cornice Of
similar material. The block was designed
and built for utility and durability rather
than external show. The location is su-
perior in business point of view, being
at once in the center of the financial and
commercial markets.
The Stanton Block was built by Col.
Nathan Adams, lsrge-hearted, whole
souled gentleman, who is superior in
moral exeellencies to his ample fortune.
Col. Adams is from Haywood county.
but is claimed by Memphis, as he is q
large property holder here, is President
of the Memphis and Ohio .ilroad, and
otherwise identified with the common in
terests and sympathies of our people.
The name by which his new block is
known was bestowed in honor to the
memory of his late devoted father in-law,
Col Joseph B. Stanton, of Stanton's De-
pot, Haywood county. Col. Stanton
came from South Carolina and settled
in that county in 1881, when the coun-
ty was still new and thinly populated.
He was one of the noble race of old pio'
neers who reclaimed the country from
wilderness, and he liyed to see bis great
est hopes fully resliged. He was an
early advocate of railroads when such in
situations had hardly been heard Of
When the Memphis and Ohio railroad
was projected he subscribed and paid
in $1,000 cash, and was BY far the
largest stakeholder il the road. 1t is
estimated that he disbursed over 100000
for charitable purposes during his life
time. No man was ever more beloved
in life and regretted in death. His
goodness to the poor will never be for
-nttan by this generation, aud bis nobil.
ity of soul will be emulsted by many am
bilious youths. The Stanton Block, then,
In the grand aareh OF the improvements,
is an appropriate and beautiful monu-
ment to his memory, and reflects honor,
not alone on his name, but upon his
second self and worthy son-in-law, Col.
Nathan Adams.