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Knoxville, Tennessee, circa 1906. "Post Office (Old Customs House), Market and Clinch Streets." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.
Note the abundance of road apples. Watch your step!
Unusual to see an old building that not only hasn't shrunk -- usually completely (i.e. it's not there anymore) -- but has actually grown. The addition dates from 1910. Of course every silver lining has to have a cloud to carry it: the Deaderick Bldg, behind it, lost the end of its name and became just plain "dead" in 1932, while the "absolutely (fireproof?)" -- and just barely visible -- Empire Building came down in 1974.
The Old Customs House is still standing. Today, it is the headquarters of the East Tennessee Historical Society and a museum.
If you swing to the left, you'll see Charles Krutch Park. Krutch (1887-1981) was an independently wealthy photographer who worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority for 20 years, retiring in 1954. In his will he bequeathed over one million dollars to the city of Knoxville to establish its first downtown park, a "quiet retreat for the pleasure and health of the public." As of today, 564 Google reviews give it 4.5 stars.
Below is the same view from July of 2015.
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