This was the old Cherokee neighborhood in the 1960s. Cherokee Lanes was the big bowling alley. The "Enchanted Shoe" was nearby. Cherokee Baptist Church was a block or two away.

Down the street was "Rainbow Lake" a swimming pool in the 1960s with a skating rink next door.

In the sixties, Atlantic Mills was a big store on Lamar.

Up the street was Allen Blind and Drapery, which may still be there. It became the biggest mini-blind fabricator in the southeast by the 1980s.
The Treasury had two stores in Memphis, one down here and another up in Fraser, in the early 70s, but they did not prosper. One of them later became J. B. Hunter, in Raleigh, but the other one became a food warehouse or something.

I remember shopping at the Treasury on Lamar as a kid. You couldn't mistake that zig-zag roof! Here's a bird's eye view - http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=pvdmn87h35mm&style=b&l vl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&scene=15351460&encType=1

I think the King Furniture store next door to the old Treasury building has been there a long time I think. My brother went to high school with one of the kids whose family owns(ed) it. Here's a street level view - http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=lamar,&sll=35.0 82059,-89.956226&sspn=0.016225,0.027595&ie=UTF8&radius=0.78&rq=1&layer=c&cb ll=35.084029,-89.960064&panoid=icwbbFgWlWgTt3-Nh_myUg&cbp=12,0,,0,5&ll=35.0 84096,-89.960175&spn=0,359.972405&t=h&z=15

DixieMart (maybe it was Dixiemart) was on Lamar to the south. I remember going there often with my Daddy. I could always get him to buy an outfit for my Barbie doll. They came in the packages with the pink and white cardboard around the edges.

I remember, in the late 70s, they used to have a parking lot carnival every year at the Treasury on Lamar. My favorite ride was the swings that went around and round while they played "Fly Like an Eagle". It was always fun to watch the purses go flying through the parking lot from that ride.

I remember picking my engagement ring out at the Treasury. Their commercial was come see what's under the squiggly roof.This about 1972.

I remember when the old Treasury building was taken over the in early 80s by Homecrafters Warehouse. Basically, an early version of the Home Depot. I also remember how my department manager was not a very nice guy. I remember Dixiemart because my sister worked there and the kids shoe store shaped like a giant shoe. I can also remember the restaurant on Lamar just past the shoe store heading toward Barron where you had to get Kentucky Fried Chicken. These were the days when KFC didn't have their own stores and sold the method and equipment to existing restaurants.

My first credit card was from the Treasury. My husband and I bought our wedding bands there. when I was expecting my daughter in the winter of 1976 and the weather was too bad outside for me to walk I did it around inside the Treasury. The counter ladies were all sure I would have the baby there in the store!

I remember going to the huge Sears warehouse/store (9 or 10 stories?) in midtown at North Parkway back in the 60's and buying LEGO sets and accessories.

I would spend my summers at the pool at Rainbow, and my winters at the skating rink. On the way home we would stop by Cherokee Lanes and play Putt-Putt golf down in the basement. I also used to go to the Airways Theater located at Lamar and Deadrick where the Burger King now stands. The Saturday matinee would cost $.10. That is where I saw "Jailhouse Rock" with Elvis Presley, and "A Hard Day's Night" with the Beatles. Times have changed.

I attended St. John's and then graduated from Catholic High in 1969. Back then it was only for boys. The Treasury was a place ever guy wanted to work. Find the right plastic tub, hook it up with the owner who drove up, and get a quarter if you were lucky. I look back and treasure these memories. The future looks good - but yesteryear wasn't so bad either.

I remember rainbow and clearpool. we also went to maywood sometimes(COLD)... I watch them build Cherokee bowing alley. I lived by cherokee elementary school on McCool off semmes. We use to get a seasons pass to rainbow for $50.00 and the whole family could swim all we wanted for the summer season. I loved that cause I was there everyday. they had great hamburgers there for .25 ...I went to st. Johns for 5 yrs. then went to Sherwood Jr. high and then on to Messick.

When did you graduatae Messick Fred?

I married a girl that graduated from Messick a very long time ago. Her maiden name was Cathy Chambers. I left St. Johns and went to Memphis Catholic (back then it was Catholic H.S. for Boys) in 1966 - graduated in 1969. I forgot all about Maywood - and WOW - when I first moved to Memphis I lived on Catherine Street just off Semmes. Really having to stretch the memory now! LOL!




Submitted by: Fred Roberts : 21 Aug 2010, 16:21
I remember rainbow and clearpool. we also went to maywood sometimes(COLD)... I watch them build Cherokee bowing alley. I lived by cherokee elementary school on McCool off semmes. We use to get a seasons pass to rainbow for $50.00 and the whole family could swim all we wanted for the summer season. I loved that cause I was there everyday. they had great hamburgers there for .25 ...I went to st. Johns for 5 yrs. then went to Sherwood Jr. high and then on to Messick.

Jimmy I left Messick in 1970 and went into the army. I would have graduated in 72. I knew you a little and I knew Cathy some too.

About what year was Cherokee lanes built? I'd love to hear more about the center. I bowled there several times in the later years and really enjoyed it. I'm aware of an underground putt-putt that was in the basement (you could hear the echo from the bowling balls being dropped on the lanes!)

Early bird bowling at Cherokee, playing putt putt in the basement. Great times. I attended Cherokee Elementary from 67 to 72 and lived in the Lamar / Semmes area. the Treasury was a favorite, as was Dixiemart (Lamar at Knight Arnold) before it. The Stop n Go and the big shoe were regular stops, and was the PIC PAC grocery store at Lamar and Pendleton, the TG&Y for toys, and Fairlawn Baptist Church on Sundays.