Mysterious "Double Towers"
The over 700 old Chattanooga pictures in the Stokes collection were all identified - except for one.
One large building with twin towers remained a mystery.
However, longtime citizen Doc Moon said it is the Vine Street Orphanage.
In the book Chattanooga In Photos Around the Turn of the Century: The Remarkable Stokes Collection, it was designated simply as Double Towers.
John Dean writes, "I grew up in the 1930s just a few blocks from this building, the Vine Street Orphanage. The photograph shows the façade facing Vine Street and the building’s west side on Mable Street. Some short streets in the area, including that portion of Mable Street, no longer exist. The orphanage was located on the south side of Vine at the corner of Mable.
"Mable Street was one short block west of Douglas Street. Mable Street became an alley at the back of the orphanage and on to Oak Street.
"Across Mable Street to the west of the orphanage and also facing Vine Street stood a handsome Jewish Temple building which in later years was removed as the Siskin Foundation buildings were expanded into the space between Oak and Vine streets. Most of the area is now part of the UTC campus."
The photo book, which sold out the initial edition of 1,000 copies, will be available at Zarzours Restaurant on Rossville Ave. off Main Street behind Fire Hall #1 through Friday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. each day.
It is also available at Kleen-a-matic on Brainerd Road just past the Tunnel and at the Kleen-a-matic on East Brainerd Road in the BiLo Center.
It is also available at The Longhorn Restaurant on N. Market across from the Walgreens and at T-Bones Restaurant on Main Street at Chestnut.
This will likely be the final edition of the collector book published by Chattanoogan.com, publisher John Wilson said.
The pictures were passed down to the mother of Connie Cooper Jones, of Harrison, and then to her. They have been kept in several cardboard boxes for over a century.
The almost-600-page book is printed by College Press at Collegedale.
The photo book is in an 11x8 1/2 format with a soft cover.
The price of the book is $35, which includes the sales tax. Let us know if you want to pick it up directly from John Wilson. If you are downtown, call him at 266-2325.
For those who want it mailed, add $6 and list where copies should be mailed. Send checks for $41 made out to Chattanoogan.com.
Mail your orders to:
John Wilson
Chattanoogan.com
129 Walnut St.
Suite 416
Chattanooga, Tn., 37403