Courtesy of Lauren Crews
This rendering was commissioned by Lauren Crews, owner of the Marine Hospital. Crews said he felt that the rendering provided by ACBL did not provide a complete representation of the silo’s visibility.
The American Commercial Barge Line company has withdrawn their application to erect two 145-foot tall storage silos on the bluff of the Mississippi River in close proximity to the National Ornamental Metal Museum and directly across from the Chickasaw Heritage Park.
The announcement was made via Facebook, on a page run by the Metal Museum that called attention to the company’s plans.
Multiple residents and businesses in the French Fort area expressed concern that the construction of the silos would disrupt the view of the Mississippi from atop the ceremonial mounds that harken back to the indigenous Chickasaw nation.
The area has been documented as one of the most historic spots along the Mississippi River. Following the period of forced removal of Native Americans in the 1830’s by the U.S. Government, the French Fort area was occupied by the Union Army, then a heavy influx of French and Irish immigrants at the turn of the 20th century.
In his book, Life on the Mississippi, famed author Mark Twain called the area, “the most beautiful vista on the Mississippi”. The Memphis Flyer will update this story once we have confirmed Twain has stopped spinning in his grave.
