- Yes, it’s a telephone pole. Nice!
The Lauderdale Library contains hundreds and thousands of images of “Lost Memphis” in the form of photographs, drawings, architectural plans, 35mm slides, matchbook covers, Viewmaster wheels, stereopticon views, children’s drawings, and stag movies.
And then, all by itself, we have a stunning full-color postcard of … a telephone pole, standing at the corner of Perkins and Summer. Gaze at it in awe. Just think of purchasing cards like these by the dozen, and sending them to all your friends, with the clichéd postcard message, “Having a great time! Wish you were here.”
This particular postcard was printed by the Dow Chemical Company (it says so on the back, you see), because they were so very proud of the coating they had applied to this particular pole. Maybe they had treated other poles in Memphis the same way, but this is the one they selected for their postcards.
And who can blame them? Just look at it! Nice-looking and quite tall, and fairly straight, with a stunning white base. It’s carrying a pair of heavy cables AND a street light. Who among us, from day to day, can say we do as much?
